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9-ioi Fish-baU’s Discovery. 

“Just look at this, Christie Randolph, ” said he, picking up a 
ten -dollar bill which had fluttered from the letter to the ground. 
—Page 139. - 

** ' > 

. l 


THROUGH TRIALS 


TO 

TRIUMPH. 


% £»io rg of $5ojrs’ j&rjrool Ifife. 


BY 

MISS H. A. PUTNAM. 

ft 


THREE ILLUSTRATIONS. 






NEW YORK: A 

NELSON & PHILLIPS. 

CINCINNATI: HITCHCOCK & WALDEN. 

SUNDAY -SCHOOL DEPARTMENT. 


ftfA 


Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by 

NELSON & PHILLIPS, 

in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 


CONTESTS 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I. Christie’s Home 7 

II. The Franklin Institute 32 

III. New Companions 41 

IV. The First Temptation 50 

V. A New Teacher 62 

VI. Dr. Grimsiiaw’s Request 75 

VII. Sunday 81 

VIII. Unpretentious Kindness 101 

IX. Christie Gains a Friend 112 

X. Dabney’s Story 119 

XI. The Troublesome Letter 137 

XII. Dark and Dreary 157 

XIII. Dabney Turns Comforter 166 

XIV. A Walk to W 314 

XV. An Anonymous Gift 183 

XVI. Bonner in Trouble 195 

XVII. Phil’s Revenge 219 

XVIII. Disappointments 233 

XIX. Christie’s Feast 241 

XX. A Revelation 254 

XXI. Triumph 262 



$ Ilasirstiions. 




Fish-Ball’s Discovery 
Phil’s Misfortune 
The New Coat 


2 

87 

192 




















V 







































► 




















































- ' 














































































































































































































































































. ‘ 















THROUGH TRIALS TO TRIUMPH. 


CHAPTER I. 
Christie's Home. 




O you suppose, Phil, the boys will 
bother me much ? ” inquired the anx- 
ious voice of Christie Randolph as, walking by 
the side of his cousin, he had been discussing 
the all-engrossing subject of his probable recep- 
tion at the Franklin Institute, for which he was 
bound the following day. 

“Well, to be honest, I am afraid the first 
term will go rather hard with such a slender 
little chap as you are ; for to order about, and 
bother all greenies, the big fellows seem to 
think a duty ; and, to do them justice, it is one 
they most energetically perform. Instead of 
mulling in the house all this time, when you 
knew you were going to school with me, you 
should have been developing your biceps ; ” aqcj 


8 Through Trials to Triumph. 

the speaker, young Phil Spencer, doubled up 
his arm, and felt of his own with evident satis- 
faction. “ Why, they will pounce upon you at 
once, and down you will tumble like a ninepin, 
and no one will take the trouble to set you up 
again, either.” 

These evil prognostications fell like lead up- 
on the heart of the little fellow thus addressed. 
That he was shorter and more slender than 
most boys of his age was a disagreeable truth 
which had been brought home to him long be- 
fore ; but that this very insignificance was to 
make him the target for all the young pugilists 
at the Franklin Institute was a thought even 
more distasteful than he had yet been forced 
to entertain ; and for the hundredth time that 
day he bitterly regretted that he must leave 
his own peaceful home for the roughness and 
tumult of school-life. 

“ Cheer up,” said Phil, arrested in the grati- 
fying examination before-mentioned by the 
silence of his companion ; “ a little buffeting 
about will do you good. You are getting to be 
a regular milk-sop, being so much with your 
sisters, and dreaming away your time ; besides 
you wont mind being knocked about after you 


Christie's Home. 


9 


are used to it. You must expect to be ‘hazed’ 
from time to time, and to make yourself useful 
in base-ball by waiting on the fellows ; a few 
cuffs more or less, thrown in, are mere trifles.” 

The probable recipient of the “ mere trifles ” 
hardly viewed the matter with the same resig- 
nation and philosophy which Phil displayed, 
and instead of cheering up as he was bidden, 
looked, as he felt, like the most miserable of 
urchins. 

“ I wish I could remain at home ; I hate 
school ; I detest base-ball ; and I must confess 
I don’t like to be cuffed either. Do you think 
now I look so very small?” and Christie straight- 
ened up in order to appear as large as possible, 
and anxiously awaited his cousin’s verdict. 

“ Well, I don’t know,” answered Phil slowly, 
as it began to dawn upon him that his conso- 
lation was not of the most comforting sort. 
“ You do look pretty thin, but perhaps you are 
one of the wiry little fellows, and have plenty 
of sand. Now sand is a good thing, next to 
well-developed biceps.” 

“ Sand, sand ! I haven’t any,” said Christie, 
looking down at mother earth with a new in- 
terest. “ I suppose I can get some, though.” 


io Through Trials to Triumph. 

“ You’d better,” returned Phil, a light spring- 
ing to his eyes. “Just get a little, wrap it up 
in a piece of paper, and keep it in your pocket, it 
will be very efficacious and Phil, unable to keep 
sober a moment longer, burst into a loud roar. 

Christie’s cheeks flushed ; that his cousin 
was laughing at him was evident, but he could 
not understand wherein he had given him cause, 
and, painfully mortified, abashed, and indeed 
hurt, he asked for an explanation. 

“ That’s a good one ! ” cried Phil, in his most 
patronizing style. “ Don’t you know sand 
means courage ? I dare say that after you get 
away from your sisters’ influence you may come 
out quite a knowing chap ; but at present you 
are uncommonly green, even for a Fresh and 
with this compliment he commenced to whistle 
to keep from laughing again. 

“ I don’t see why you are always casting 
slurs upon Annie and Alice,” remarked Christie, 
rather resenting Phil’s manner of alluding to 
his sisters. 

“Nonsense!” cried Phil ; “I haven’t cast any 
reflections on them. I think they are very 
nice, in fact, wonderfully jolly for girls ; but 
then, you know, girls are not boys.” 


Christie's Home. 


ii 


This indisputable statement Christie could 
not deny, but he ventured to suggest apologet- 
ically that they could not help it. 

“I know it,” conceded Phil, in pitying ac- 
cents, “ and a pretty life they have of it, being 
housed from morning till night. Why, they 
can’t tell a cricket bat from a base-ball bat ; 
and that reminds me I must hurry home and 
pack my new balls. Be sure you are ready in 
the morning, Christie, and don’t forget the 
sand.” With this playful suggestion Phil turned 
gayly down a neighboring street, and was soon 
out of sight. 

A happy-go-lucky sort of a fellow was Phil 
Spencer ; thoughtless, heedless, good-natured, 
and, in his way, very fond of his cousin. That 
he was a greeny and a milk-sop Phil averred 
with the utmost candor, always adding, how- 
ever, that it was his sisters’ fault ; and having 
thus shifted the blame upon those' pretty shoul- 
ders, he condescended to patronize and make 
much of poor Christie, who in return looked up 
to him with unbounded admiration. Indeed, 
Phil was very generally admired by boys ; for 
his grand, generous ways, his invariable good 
spirits, and his readiness to join in any frolic, 


12 Through Trials to Triumph. 

regardless of consequences, were just the attri- 
butes most attractive to school-boys. Older 
friends might fear that his thoughtlessness pro- 
ceeded from a selfish indifference to the com- 
fort or happiness of others, and that his acts 
were not influenced by high aims or steady 
principle. In fact, Phil did not make much 
effort to do right, nor did he think much 
of serious subjects ; but slipped along feeling 
very well satisfied with himself, and wishing 
Christie would take life easy. 

His remarks to him during the afternoon 
were hardly conducive to that end, and made 
Christie very uncomfortable as he slowly bent 
his steps homeward. He lingered on the way 
to argue himself into something of the right 
kind of feeling. If his cousin, who knew all 
the circumstances of his life and loved him so 
well, considered him “ green,” how would he ap- 
pear to other boys ? O how he wished he was 
stout and handsome like Phil, whom all ad- 
mired ! Unlike most boys, he had no glorious 
visions of school-life. What cared he for the 
pursuits which interested them ? He knew no 
more of cricket and base-ball than his sisters, 
whose ignorance of such matters had called 


Christie's Home. 


13 


forth such unmitigated scorn from his cousin. 
He could not shoot at a target, set snares, 
fence, nor excel in any of those sports which 
most boys delight in ; then, there was the 
sickening dread of leaving home and meeting 
strangers. He knew he should feel lonely and 
discontented ; and how impossible it would be 
to do right with no one to help and encourage 
him, at the very time, too, when he most need- 
ed assistance. Visions of severe discipline, 
hard task-masters, and tormenting companions 
rose to his mind, and almost decided him to 
make an effort to escape his hard fate. 

Christie knew it was the earnest desire of his 
parents that he should go to school ; he knew 
the parting was quite as much of a trial to 
them as to him ; but they were willing to make 
any sacrifice of their own feelings for his good, 
and it was his duty to comply cheerfully with 
their wishes. He loved his parents with an 
ardor and devotion not possible to boys of a 
different temperament ; they were to him the 
wisest, most beautiful, and the best that his 
imagination could picture, and many an hour 
he beguiled dreaming of the time when, by 
some glorious, impossible act he might prove 


14 Through Trials to Triumph. 

to them all he felt. He remembered this the 
first time the subject of leaving home was dis- 
cussed before him. Here, now, he could realize 
his fondest desires, not, to be sure, in the ro- 
mantic, chivalrous manner of his idle dreams, 
but naturally and practically. He need not 
add to their unhappiness by murmurs or com- 
plaints ; so he had been bravely trying to con- 
ceal, as best he might, every look and sign of 
discomfort. This was no easy task. Many a 
time he had felt his courage giving way ; many 
a time, as on the present occasion, he had been 
on the point of begging that the evil day might 
be put off yet a little longer ; but then, as now, 
he had bravely fought the weakness, and in a 
few hours would be beyond the possibility of 
yielding to it. 

As he neared his home, it had never seemed 
more attractive and imposing. It was a large 
free-stone house on one of the fashionable ave- 
nues in New York ; and there, watching out 
of the French plate windows, watching for his 
return, were two dimpled, rosy faces, which 
vanished only to appear again at the door, “ to 
meet dear Christie.” 

“ Dear Christie ” brightened up as he caught 


Christie's Home. 


15 


sight of the sweet young faces of his sisters, 
and listened to their merry chattering. The 
new trunk had arrived — such a beauty ! — with 
his initials, “ C. W. R.,” painted in famous big 
letters on the end ; sundry hints, too, were 
thrown out concerning certain packages which 
had been placed therein, which it did not 
require much cleverness on Christie’s part to 
divine, were presents for himself. 

Christie followed the excited young creatures 
into his own room, and found his mother there 
busily engaged in packing. Her eyes were very 
red, and Christie noticed something very like a 
tear as she bent over the trunk ; but she spoke 
in such a bright, cheerful voice, he concluded 
he must be mistaken. 

“ Here is a new desk,” she said, “ filled with 
writing materials. I expect many a sheet of 
this paper will be returned to me, containing 
glorious accounts of the progress you are mak- 
ing, and the happy times you are having at 
school.” 

Christie thought he could not stay there a 
moment longer, he felt such a strong, ridiculous 
disposition to cry ; so, picking up his cap from 
the floor, he ran out of the room in such a 


1 6 Through Trials to Triumph . 

hurried, excited manner, that one might very 
naturally suppose the house was on fire, or 
some other calamity impending, which neces- 
sitated the greatest possible speed. As he 
wandered through the beautiful house, all the 
surrounding objects seemed to bid him good- 
bye, like old familiar friends : there were his 
favorite pictures, the rare flowers in the con- 
servatory, the aquarium, the golden fishes, the 
birds, and last, but not least, old Ponto, who 
poked his cold nose into his hand, and seemed 
to understand matters exactly. 

Christie often remembered this last evening 
at home, and felt that if it had not been for the 
uncomfortable sensation before alluded to, it 
would have been delightful. All seemed to 
exert themselves to amuse him. One by one 
the family jokes were aired for his entertain- 
ment, and what good stories his father told of 
his own school life. Even John, the waiter, 
tried to show his regret at parting with his 
young master by pressing the raisins upon 
him, at dinner, with a pertinacity as distracting 
as it was unusual ; then, the pleasant hours in 
the library that followed, when the old familiar 
songs never sounded sweeter or more attractive. 


Christie's Home. 


17 


Notwithstanding this, Christie was glad when 
the evening was over and he could escape those 
loving, watchful eyes which he feared would 
penetrate through the vail he so clumsily wore. 

He had just turned off the gas in his room 
for the night, and was meditating upon the 
feasibility of indulging in “ a little weep ” all 
unknown to a soul, when the door was softly 
opened, and he found his mother had come in 
for one more quiet talk. 

“I know it will be a pleasure' for you to 
remember, when far away,” she commenced, 
“that your father and I appreciate the effort 
you have made at self-control. It is a great 
trial for one so constitutionally shy and re- 
served to battle his way alone in the mimic 
world of a large school.” 

“O mother, mother, why must I be sent from 
all I love?” cried Christie. 

“Because, my child, the defects of your 
character are such that your present course 
of training tends to their development ; you 
are too deficient in energy and self-reliance. 
To become a successful, useful man, you must 
learn to think and act for yourself; and that 
you will never do at home.” 


1 8 Through Trials to Triumph. 

“ But how can I be independent, how can I 
do right, while I am the butt of the school ? 
Even Phil says I am green, and the boys will 
fight me because I am so small.” 

“ I don’t believe they will hurt you very much 
for so innocent a cause. Phil, you know, is a 
little inclined to exaggerate matters. Of course, 
you cannot expect that other people will be as 
careful and considerate of your feelings as your 
home friends ; but you can, in a great measure, 
influence the treatment of others toward you, 
and can surround yourself with an atmosphere 
of love and kindness as surely as you can with 
one of discontent and distrust. Interest your- 
self in the feelings and pursuits of others, that 
you may be companionable. You must remem- 
ber, however, that pleasant though it may be to 
gain popularity, it must never be obtained by 
the sacrifice of principle. Be merry, obliging, 
sympathizing, and patient, but never do wrong 
to please your school-fellows, for it is infinitely 
better to have God’s approval than that of the 
whole world besides.” 

“ But how shall I know what is right without 
you to help me ? ” 

“ God’s own word, the Bible, is a better guide 


Christie's Home. 


19 


than I can be; and O, my child, let nothing 
interfere with the study of that. Read it faith- 
fully every night and morning, just as if you 
were at home, for it teaches us that it is 
through forgetfulness of self, and a steady, con- 
stant struggle to do right, that we become pure 
and strong. Trials, buffetings, and hardships, 
are what we need to discipline our hearts, and 
keep ever before our eyes the object and aim 
of our life here ; so that if they come to you 
in your school-life, accept them cheerfully as 
from God.” 

When his mother left him, an hour later, 
Christie felt his courage higher and his trust in 
God stronger than ever before. It was not that 
school appeared any more attractive, but he felt 
the necessity of improvement, and he deter- 
mined to set himself at once to the task of cor- 
recting those faults which threatened to inter- 
fere so seriously with his future, grudging no 
time or discipline which could further the work ; 
and with a fervent prayer to God that he would 
not withhold his aid, he fell into a calm and 
pleasant sleep, from which he did not wake the 
following morning until a heavy hand was laid 
upon his shoulder. 


2 


20 Through Trials to Triumph. 

It was early morning ; the gray misty sky was 
just touched up in the east with a few rich tints 
of gold and rose color, which but dimly hinted 
of the coming glory, and shed but a feeble light 
into the room, yet Christie could discern the 
figure of his father standing by his bedside, and 
heard his cheery voice bidding him dress at 
once, as the train would not wait for sleepy 
boys. The hours which followed were all bus- 
tle and confusion. First, the hurried breakfast, 
for which no one seemed to care. Christie’s 
naturally fine appetite deserted him upon this 
occasion, and the tempting muffins and rich 
coffee, which he had often been known to par- 
take of so freely to the imminent risk of his 
digestion, were left untouched. Then came the 
carriage and the good-byes, the hand-shaking 
with all the servants, the hurried kiss, and a 
“ God bless you ” from his mother, a tight 
squeeze from the little girls, and somehow he 
and his father were in the carriage rattling 
through the streets. How strange it looked at 
that time of the day ! Christie thought New 
York hardly seemed New York without the 
great throng which crowded the streets at 
noonday. The splendid equipages and their 


Christie's Home . 


21 


gay occupants had vanished, and only heavy 
teams were to be seen, or the milk carts going 
their rounds, from whence proceeded those 
shrill, unearthly whistles. The only pedes- 
trians were a few workmen hurrying to their 
labors, or here and there a policeman saunter- 
ing wearily up and down his beat. 

Notwithstanding the streets were so devoid 
of interest, Christie persistently held his head 
out of the window. It may have been that his 
curiosity was awakened at this unusual view of 
the city, or perhaps it was to hide any emotion 
which he considered unbecoming in a Frank- 
linite. However deficient in excitement they 
found the streets, the depot was the scene of 
the usual bustle and confusion, and there, in the 
midst, surrounded by trunks, boxes, hackmen, 
and porters, stood Phil gesticulating wildly, and 
disputing loudly with the baggage-master. The 
cause of his vehemence seemed to center in a 
big black dog, which, disgusted at the prospect 
of being severed from his master and put into 
the baggage-car, was as miserable as a dog 
might be, and was adding to the general melee 
by giving evidence of his displeasure in sundry 
barks, which were by no means pleasant to hear. 


22 Through Trials to Triumph. 

“ It is no use talking,” said the baggage-mas- 
ter angrily, “ the dog will have to go in with the 
freight. It is against orders to allow them in 
the passenger-car ; they are in the way and 
annoy people.” 

“ What is the trouble ? ” broke in the gentle- 
manly voice of Mr. Randolph, Christie’s father 
and Phil’s uncle. 

While the man was narrating the circum- 
stances of the case, and bitterly complaining of 
the obstinacy of boys, Phil took the opportunity 
of squeezing unmolested through the crowd with 
the dog, and established himself comfortably in 
the car, from which height he frowned down 
upon his enemy in triumph, perfectly indiffer- 
ent whether the dog was in the way of his fel- 
low-passengers or not. 

"All aboard,” shouted the conductor, and 
Christie had hardly time to reach his cousin 
before he was fairly started on his journey. 

“ A pretty time I have had of it,” said Phil, 
breathing freely once more, and commencing to 
stroke the glossy coat of his favorite. “ A little 
more and that baggage-man would have felt the 
might of my biceps. I am a terrible fellow 
when I am roused. However, I got the start 


Christie ’ s Home. 


23 


of the man without a collision, and here we are 
as snug as a bug in a rug, and I can save my 
strength for another occasion. You see I have 
plenty of use for it, as it is against the rule for 
boys to keep dogs, and I have to pummel some 
of the little chaps well to prevent their telling 
the teachers of the little circumstance. No 
trouble about the other fellows ; they find it 
very convenient to have a knowing animal like 
this at their command without the peril of dis- 
covery resting on their heads.” 

“ But I shouldn’t think you would want it to 
rest on yours,” said Christie. 

“ I can’t say I do exactly enjoy that part of 
it ; but it is all in the way of business, and this 
is a paying one. You see there is no fun in 
gunning without a dog, and the Franklinites 
are very fond of that sport, though the innocent 
diversion is forbidden by the authorities. How- 
ever, that only adds to the excitement of the 
thing, and between you and me and the post,” 
said Phil, with a confidential nudge, “ it is very 
freely indulged in by the boys.” 

“ Surely you don’t go, Phil, when you are 
expressly forbidden ? ” 

“ O bless you, no, not often,” replied Phil de- 


24 Through Trials to Triumph. 

murely, “ because I prefer the profits of letting 
out my dog to the others for a stated sum. Half 
of that dear delightful money I am forced to 
part with weekly to a greedy villager in com- 
pensation for his keep, the rest is a neat little 
amount, which ekes out my allowance to very 
comfortable proportions, and makes me the 
envy of the school. Some of the boys pretend 
to be dreadfully shocked at the way I get the 
money, but I notice that they don’t disdain 
borrowing occasionally. I always lend, though 
I find they are apt to forget such trifling 
debts.” 

Christie listened to his cousin with astonish- 
ment. That school rules were often infringed 
upon he never doubted, but that they should be 
set at naught and profited by in this world-wise 
manner by a boy as honorable as he had always 
considered Phil, startled him. 

“ Money is a good thing every-where,” cried 
Phil, “but it is particularly comfortable at 
school. The boys think ten times as much of 
you if you dash about with plenty of chink. 
By the way, how much does Uncle Christopher 
allow you a week ? ” 

“01 have never had any regular allowance,” 


Christie 's Home. 


2 5 


answered Christie ; “ I’ve always had money 
given me as I needed it, and I suppose I shall 
continue now in the same old way.” 

A look of great annoyance passed over Phil’s 
bright face at this announcement. 

“ It don’t sound very promising,” said he, 
“ but I remember your gov. tips you pretty 
often. I hope you will always seem flush be- 
fore the boys, for they all know your father is 
rich, and will expect you to be pretty liberal 
with them. You’d better buy a good many 
bull’s eyes just at first. That looks well, and 
tastes better and Phil beamed upon his cousin 
as if he had imparted a very valuable plan of 
action, which it had taken great shrewdness 
and cleverness to devise. 

“ Don’t like them,” said Christie. 

“ All the better,” returned the unquenchable 
Phil ; “ you can pass them round, and seem 
very generous.” 

“ But I shouldn’t have money for any thing 
else if I did that often,” said Christie. 

“ Why not make more, as I do. There is 
nothing in this world like enterprise,” remarked 
this embryo trafficker, settling himself back in 
his seat with much complacency. “ I know q 


2 6 Through Trials to Triumph. 

first-rate way to make money this term, and if 
you say so we will go partnerships.” 

“ Would it involve breaking the rules of the 
school ? ” asked Christie hesitatingly. “ If so, 
don’t say any thing about it.” 

“Afraid I shall put naughty ideas into your 
head ? ” observed Phil maliciously. “ Well, I’ll 
try not to corrupt you until you make friends 
with some of the good fellows who never break 
rules, and are perfect prigs. Faugh, how I do 
dislike religion ! ” 

“You do!” exclaimed Christie, opening his 
eyes in amazement. “ Don’t you like people to 
be patient and gentle ? ” 

Phil bowed his head in assent. 

“ And to be truthful, charitable, and unself- 
ish, without pride or petty vanities,” continued 
Christie. 

“ Don’t be silly, Christie ; of course I like 
that.” 

“ Then you like religion, for that is religion, 
or the fruits of religion.” 

“ Well, I don’t fancy religious boys, then. 
There’s Whitehouse ; what a splendid fellow he 
would be if he wasn’t pious ! ’ 

« Perhaps it is his piety that makes him 


Christie's Home. 


2 7 

splendid,” suggested Christie, “ for religion is 
purifying and ennobling.” 

“ Hullo ! ” whistled the volatile Phil, who was 
beginning to weary of so serious a subject ; “ do 
you see that somber, shabby-looking fellow two 
seats ahead, on the other side of the car ; that’s 
Dabney, of the first class.” 

Christie followed his cousin’s gaze, and 
noticed for the first time a boy dressed in rusty 
mourning. This boy’s back being turned to- 
ward him, Christie could not see his face, but 
his figure was awkward in the extreme. He had 
high and narrow shoulders, on which his head 
seemed almost to rest, so short was his neck ; 
while his legs, long and thin, were at present 
disposed of in the most ungainly fashion ; the 
one being wound around the other as if by 
habit, and the whole figure almost bent double 
over a book in which he appeared to be ab- 
sorbed. 

“ Poor fellow, he is in mourning,” said Christie. 

“ All but his hair,” laughed Phil, “ which is 
bright colored enough for a more festive youth. 
As you see him now, so he is always ; bent 
double over a book. He is the greatest dig in 
the school.” 


2 8 Through Trials to Triumph. 

“ What do you mean by a * dig ? ’ ” asked 
Christie. 

“ Well, greenie, be it known, a dig is a fellow 
who is always working at his lessons, like Dab- 
ney. He never looks at or thinks of any thing 
else, I really believe ; and the teachers are 
continually begging him to take more exercise 
and not to overtax himself. O dear, how 
strange it must seem,” mused Phil. From 
which remark Christie shrewdly surmised that 
his cousin was not often so entreated. 

“ Is he a friend of yours ? ” questioned Chris- 
tie, beginning to feel an interest in his odd-look- 
ing traveling companion. 

“ I never exchanged half a dozen words with 
him in my life. He never speaks to any one 
unless he is obliged to. As he is in our dormi- 
tory I saw a great deal of him last term, and 
taking compassion on his forlorn, desolate state, 
I tried once to make friends with him ; but he 
repulsed me in such a disagreeable manner that 
I fled to the society of a few chosen spirits, real 
wide-awakes, who know how to enjoy them- 
selves in spite of monitors, teachers, or the Rev. 
Dr. himself. You mustn’t peach, Christie, but 
we are members of a secret society, gotten up 


Christie's Home. 


29 


for the purpose of having a good time, and help- 
ing each other out of scrapes ; I’m treasurer, and 
have considerable influence. I will try and get 
you in. Upon my word, there is the president 
now,” said Phil as the car stopped at a way- 
station, and a boy was seen strolling leisurely 
up and down the platform, unconcernedly eat- 
ing a large piece of gingerbread. “ Bonner as 
large as life, up to his old tricks, stuffing. I 
must go and speak to him. Come on, 
Christie.” 

But Christie, shy of strangers, was not obe- 
dient to the call, and on being left alone, curled 
himself up in a corner of the seat and speculated 
on all he had heard. The little insight into 
school-life which had just been given him con- 
firmed the suspicions he already entertained, 
that it would require no small degree of moral 
heroism to follow the dictates of his conscience, 
and bear the ridicule of Phil, who, it seemed, be- 
longed to a set that looked upon the teachers 
as so many monsters, who, to gratify their tyran- 
nical tastes, made rules to which only the weak 
willingly submitted. Christie knew this was 
not so. His common sense told him that rules 
were necessary to secure order and discipline, 


30 Through Trials to Triumph. 

without which a school would fail of the end for 
which it was intended. 

He had always been surrounded by the puri- 
fying influences of a Christian home. His par- 
ents were humble followers of Christ, who in 
their daily life gave evidence of the grace which 
cometh from him alone. The beauty of holi- 
ness, thus exemplified, was not lost upon this 
impressible child. The story of Christ’s suffer- 
ings had early touched his heart, and he earnest- 
ly desired to dedicate his manhood to the Gos- 
pel ministry that he might lead others to love, 
trust, and worship that Saviour who alone can 
bring eternal life. But how could he stimulate 
others to the culture of a spirit of obedience to- 
ward God unless he could humble his own heart ? 
How could he teach or help others until the ele- 
ments of the Christian life were strongly devel- 
oped in himself? He had learned through God’s 
Holy Word that the Almighty takes his own 
way in perfecting the human soul ; that the 
every-day trials and annoyances of life alone can 
discipline our hearts. It is through trials and 
temptations resisted that we are made pure and 
strong. Why, then, should he shrink from the 
life now opened before him if he knew it was 


Christie's Home. 


3i 


what he needed to make him good and useful ? 
O weak and timid heart ! he feared lest in re- 
sisting temptation he should being ridicule 
upon himself and be deserted by Phil, the only 
one in a large school upon whom he had any 
claim. 

With this dread in his mind he looked out of 
the car window: rich meadow lands, wooded 
hills, intersecting valleys, and winding streams 
passed swiftly before his vision. How great and 
wonderful are God’s works ! Surely the Being 
who made all this was able to comfort and 
sustain him, though every earthly friend should 
forsake him. 


32 


Through Trials to Triumph. 


CHAPTER II. 

The Franklin Institute. 

t HE sun had already set, but brilliant clouds 
still marked the western sky, and shed a 
pleasant glow over the quiet New En- 
gland village which boasted of the Franklin 
Institute. That stately edifice afforded a great 
contrast to the low, simple cottages which, sep- 
arated by neat flower-gardens, lined each side 
of the main street. Indeed, it was the only pre- 
tentious building the village contained. Tall 
poplars and somber fir-trees studded the lawn 
in front, which sloped toward the road, and was 
concealed from the passer-by by a high wall ; but 
at certain hours of the day the tumultuous up- 
roar of many voices apprised the villagers that 
some eighty boys were disporting themselves 
therein, or on the playground in the rear of the 
house. 

At present a group of boys, in sundry atti- 
tudes, might be seen sitting or standing on the 


The Franklin Institute. 33 

wall watching a clumsy old stage-coach as it 
slowly toiled toward them. Each day this ve- 
hicle was the object of the greatest interest, for 
it brought to the boys those dear letters from 
home, full of pleasant tidings, loving messages, 
and kind wishes. At the commencement of 
every term the arrival of the stage was fraught 
with an additional interest, for at each advent 
it was sure to turn into the well-kept carriage- 
path which led to the door of the school, and 
deposited, amid shouts of welcome, its load of 
scholars. 

Most of the pupils had already arrived, for it 
was the custom, though not exacted by the 
teachers, that they should be present in time to 
get settled and classified before lessons began, 
and the group on the wall were giving wild 
guesses as to how many of the delinquents 
might be expected that evening. 

“ I bet you ten to one that Bonner is in 
that stage ! ” cried one, tossing a green apple 
into the air, and almost knocking over his near- 
est neighbor in the vain endeavor to catch it 
again. 

“ Harry Maxwell would make a most expert 
juggler!” exclaimed Johnson as the apple 


34 Through Trials to Triumph. 

lighted on his hat. “ His sleight of hand is 
remarkable.” 

“ Yes, Maxwell is a very remarkable little 
fellow ; good at any thing,” observed another. 
“ For instance, he can guess to a certainty who 
is in that stage, especially if he has had the ad- 
vantage of getting a peep at the trunks that 
have already arrived, and are now in the back 
hall, as I have good reason to know, having just 
come from there.” 

“ And whose trunks have come ? ” cried a 
chorus of voices. 

“Jack Bonner’s, Dabney’s, Phil Spencer’s, 
and one other — I am unable to say who owns 
it ; brand new — marked C. W. R.” 

“ Perhaps those are the initials of the new 
scholar the teachers were talking about yester- 
day,” suggested Johnson. “ I only hope he is 
as jolly and good-natured as Spencer himself. 
He is a fellow after my own heart.” 

u Then Christie Randolph wont suit you,” 
said one of the oldest of the group, who hitherto 
had been but a silent listener to the remarks of 
the others. “ I have seen him in New York, 
and he is as different from Phil as he possibly 
can be — a regular verdant green.” 


The Franklin Institute. 


35 


“ All the better for us,” returned Lawton, the 
acknowledged dandy of the school, tapping his 
boots, which shone only as the boots of a dandy 
can shine ; “ if he is that sort of a fellow we 
shall have twice the sport ‘ hazing 1 him that we 
had last half over little Maxwell here.” 

“ Here comes the stage ! Off with your caps, 
boys ; three cheers for the travelers ! ” 

A large crowd gathered around the stage as 
it stopped, and many bright eyes scanned poor 
Christie as, bashful and shrinking, he appeared 
before them. 

Little Maxwell, standing in the background, 
noted his slender form and diffident manner. 
“ Wont he have to take it, though ! ” was his 
mental ejaculation. 

“ This way,” said Phil as he led the way 
into the house ; “ we must report ourselves to 
Dr. Grimshaw. There is nothing very terrible 
about him, Christie, so you needn’t wince.” 

Notwithstanding this assurance, Christie’s 
heart almost stood still as his cousin knocked 
at the library door, and a voice from within bade 
them enter. Phil was right. There was certainly 
nothing very terrible about the Doctor : a kind, 

elderly gentleman, with grave, benign manners, 
3 


3 6 Through Trials to Triumph. 

and a smile as bright as that of any of his 
pupils. He gave the boys such a hearty wel- 
come, and hoped they would be happy there, 
with such evident sincerity, that Christie’s 
heart warmed toward him at once. 

“ I know I shall love the Doctor,” was 
Christie’s remark as he walked up stairs with 
Phil. 

“ What ! love old Grim ? ” laughed Phil. 
“ Well, every one to their taste ; though, to be 
sure, he is an improvement on Honey.” 

“Whom do you mean by Honey, Phil ?” 

“ Hunnewell, one of the assistant teachers ; a 
perfect hound for smelling out mischief. He 
sniffs it from afar, and when once on the track 
one might as well give up first as last. He is 
the most provoking of men. Kept me an hour 
after school every day for six months to recite 
grammar. It’s always * third person, singular 
number, and agrees with John.’ Bah ! how I 
hate the sound of it.” 

“ I should think Honey, as you call him, 
would hate it too. It must be very tiresome 
going over the same thing year in and year 
out. I am afraid I shouldn’t make a very faith- 
ful teacher.” 


The Franklin Institute. 


3 7 


“You can pity the teachers if you like. I 
save all my sympathy for myself;” and Phil, 
with a great flourish, opened the dormitory 
door. 

A look of disappointment crossed Christie’s 
face as he noted the contents of the room. 
The rows of little beds placed at intervals 
against the wall looked neat and comfortable ; 
yet Christie was forcibly reminded of a hospital, 
and in a dejected tone imparted his impression 
to Phil. 

“ It’s sociable ; I like it,” returned Phil, 
planking himself on the white bed-spread, sub- 
limely indifferent to muddy boots. “ This is my 
bed, and that is yours. We are neighbors, you 
see. The one on the other side of you be- 
longs to Fish-ball. Guess you’ll like Fish- 
ball ; he’s jolly.” 

“ What a queer name,” said Christie. 

“Yes, it is queer. It’s the short for Fisher 
Baldwin. It teazed him awfully when the boys 
called him so at first ; but he’s used to it now, 
and submits gracefully.” 

“I’d rather have a cell to myself than have 
to room with so many. It must be very disa- 
greeable to live always in a crowd, with no op- 


38 Through Trials to 1'riumph . 

portunity of being alone once in awhile,” said 
Christie. 

“ What do you want to be alone for ? Now, 
Christie, let me give you a piece of advice. 
Just drop all nonsense, and don’t be too relig- 
ious. It makes a boy dreadfully unpopular 
here. There is Whitehouse ; he’s the one I 
told you was such a splendid fellow. The 
boys call him Parson, of course, because he 
reads and prays every night just as if he were 
at home.” 

“ And why should he not ? Surely he needs 
God’s help and protection as much here as 
elsewhere,” observed Christie. 

“ That all sounds very well ; but I want to 
know if God would not hear his prayers just as 
soon if he did not make such a parade of his 
piety, but said them quietly, after he had gone 
to bed and the boys thought him asleep ? ” 
asked Phil. 

“ I don’t know about that,” returned Christie 
thoughtfully, speaking rather to himself than 
to Phil. “ I have always been taught to kneel 
humbly when I address a holy God ; should I 
refrain from doing so through fear of his creat- 
ures I doubt whether he would listen to me.” 


The Franklin Institute. 39 

“ I do believe Parson Whitehouse’s assistant 
has arrived ! But there is the chapel bell ; per- 
haps you would prefer the society of the saints. 
We are all obliged to go to chapel in the morn- 
ing, but we can do as we like about attending 
the evening service, consequently there is no 
trouble about seats ; one can usually have his 
choice ; ” and Phil laughed. 

Tired, disappointed, and troubled, Christie 
heard gladly that there was this refuge whither 
he could flee and look up for strength and 
comfort. So he left Phil in the dormitory, 
crossed the hall, and entered the chapel. A 
few boys were scattered about the room. As 
Phil had implied, there were not many who 
took advantage of this sweet evening hour to 
hush all earthly thoughts to sleep, and realize 
the blessing. God promises to those who gather 
together in his name. 

“ For what is a man profited, if he shall gain 
the whole world and lose his own soul?” fell 
upon Christie’s ear like a message from Christ. 
As he thought of him, how tender, loving, great 
he seemed ! What matter if his school-fellows 
did call him “ Parson Whitehouse’s Assistant ? ” 
Better to lose their favor than the glorious 


40 Through Trials to Triumph. 

promises held out to him from above. Gradu- 
ally, joy and peace banished the homesick 
weary feelings from his heart, and brought him 
happiness even upon the first day of his dreaded 
school-life. 


New Companio7is. 


41 


CHAPTER III. 



New Companions. 

HY don’t you unpack, you lazy 
thing ? ” said Phil to Christie. The 
latter had rejoined him in the dor- 
mitory, after the chapel service mentioned in 
the last chapter. “Your room is better than 
your company here ; ” and Phil, as he spoke, 
dived into his trunk, and hauling up an old 
jacket and a couple of shirts, flung them on 
the floor, looking very wistfully at the spot 
on the bed where Christie was seated, com- 
placently watching the unpacking which was 
going on in all quarters of the apartment. 

Being thus unceremoniously ordered to take 
himself off, Christie unlocked his trunk. There 
was a certain satisfaction to him in doing so, 
for the packages of which his sisters had 
spoken were not forgotten, and were some- 
thing of a balm to his feelings as, Turk-fashion, 
he sat on the floor to examine them 


42 Through Trials to Triumph. 

“O Phil,” he exclaimed in a jubilant tone, 
“ mother has put up a box of nuts ! Don’t you 
want it ? ” and he sent it rolling over the floor. 

Its journey was intercepted by a short, 
dumpy little fellow, who had previously been 
introduced to Christie, without formality, as 
Fish-ball. 

“ Nuts for me to crack !” cried he, lifting the 
cover and helping himself plentifully. “Got 
any thing else good ? ” 

Christie was too much engaged to heed this 
question. He had opened two of the packages, 
and had found a very handsome pocket Bible 
and a dressing-gown. The latter was a gift 
from his sister Alice, whose girlish taste had 
led to the selection of a gown of the most gorge- 
ous description. It was pale mauve, lined, and 
faced with silk, striped with crimson and gold. 
A gilt cord and tassel also embellished the 
garment at the belt. The whole affair was so 
characteristic of the giver that Christie could 
not help laughing softly to himself as he folded 
it, almost tenderly, and placed it on the foot 
of the bed until he could make room for it 
elsewhere. “I will never tell her I couldn’t 
wear such a ridiculous-looking thing here,” he 


43 


New Companions. 

thought, and then turned to the last package, 
which contained an illustrated copy of the 
“Arabian Nights.” This book was a great 
favorite of his, and in looking over its delight- 
ful pages again he became oblivious of every 
thing else until he was roused by the loud 
cheers and laughter of some dozen boys. The 
excitement was occasioned by Fish-ball, who, 
very much to Christie’s astonishment, was 
decked in his new dressing-gown, turned in- 
side out, and engaged in throwing his new 
Bible against the ceiling, and turning a somer- 
sault while it was in the air, always regain- 
ing his feet in time to catch it in its descent, 
and performing other gymnastic feats equally 
brilliant. 

Much practice had perfected Fish-ball in such 
harlequinian antics ; and Christie might have 
been amused at his agility if he had not been 
so shocked at the use he was making of the 
book he had been taught to look upon as some- 
thing too holy to be touched irreverently. His 
first impulse was to ask him for it ; but the 
want of moral courage and independence — the 
serious defects of an otherwise beautiful char- 
acter — prevented him from doing so. 


44 Through Trials to Triumph. 

“ Go it, Fish-ball ! ” “ Bravo ! bravo ! ” sung 
out the spectators. 

“ How can you laugh at such treatment of 
the Bible ? You ought to be ashamed, Fish- 
ball ! ” cried Whitehouse, with a boldness which 
Christie envied. “ Look out for my head ! ” he 
continued, dodging, as the book fell at his feet. 
Picking it up, he looked with admiration at its 
beautiful binding and clear type, and turning to 
the fly-leaf read, in a distinct voice, “ Christie 
W. Randolph.” 

“ Who is he ? ” he inquired, looking round to 
ascertain to whom to restore the book. 

“ It is my Bible ; please give it to me,” said 
Christie, emerging from his concealed position, 
and advancing into the middle of the room to 
recover his property, with some confusion at 
being brought into notice before so many. 

“ Thft speaker, rising to be seen, 

Looks very red, because so very green,” 

observed Fish-ball in a loud aside. 

“ I say, Greeny,” cried Bonner, “ you’re one 
of the religious chaps ; I know by your cut. 
Come, now, out with your colors ! ” 

“I am not ashamed of them,” said Christie 
stoutly, feeling encouraged to speak boldly by 


45 


New Companions . 

Whitehouse’s example, notwithstanding the fact 
that he saw Phil’s head protrude from under 
the foot of his bed, and shaken furtively in dis- 
approval ; “ I am trying to be religious, though 
I often fail.” 

“ What a blessed community this is ! ” said 
Johnson facetiously. “We can boast of two 
popes now — Pius the First, and Pius the 
Second.” 

“It’s vulgar to pun/’ said Lawton senten- 
tiously. 

“ That sounds bitter. I am afraid you’re 
coveting this resplendent wrap. I’ve observed, 
Lawton, you’re always crabbed and spiteful 
when any one else gets any thing neat and 
tasty,” replied Fish-ball, tapping the bright silk 
lining of the dressing-gown with rather grimy 
fingers. “ My ! Randolph, there hasn’t been 
such a dashing toilet seen here during my day, 
unless we except Dabney’s dress-coat,” contin- 
ued he, referring to the funny roundabout 
jacket Dabney had on, such a one as the little 
boys in the sixth class wore and longed to dis- 
card for the coat and vest of their seniors. 

It was rumored in the school that this jacket 
was the very one that Dabney wore when, as a 


4 6 Through Trials to Triumph. 

little boy, he first appeared at the institution. 
Very few of the scholars could remember that 
event, but they who did vouched for the truth 
of the assertion. At all events it was sadly 
small and shabby, and added greatly to the 
awkwardness of his appearance. 

Christie was glad to see that the boys, as a 
general thing, looked disgusted at this personal 
allusion ; and Phil, with the laudable object of 
saying something in Dabney’s defense, re- 
marked that he “didn’t know there was any 
law against big fellows wearing jackets if they 
cared to.” 

It seemed to Christie that Phil had taken up 
the cudgels in Dabney’s behalf most unneces- 
sarily, as that strange boy appeared uncon- 
scious that he was the subject of remark, and 
settled himself to read without even a glance 
toward the speakers, appropriating to his own 
use the only lamp in his corner of the dormi- 
tory, and, for his further convenience, tilting 
back his chair in such wise as to exclude 
every one else from the table at which he was 
seated. 

“ I heard that Dabney was going to take up 
a new study this term. I hope it is lessons in 


New Companions. 47 

politeness,” said Johnson, indignant at the mo- 
nopoly of light. 

“Why don’t you go down stairs for a can- 
dle ? ” croaked Phil, flapping his arms, and 
leaping from bed to bed like a bull-frog. 

“ Hold, there ! Don’t jump on my clean 
things ! ” screamed Lawton. But Phil was 
making a bee-line across the room, and noth- 
ing could stop him, not even Dabney’s table, 
which stood in the way, and upon which he 
lighted, notwithstanding it was a slight one, 
and already held the lamp and Dabney’s books. 
As might have been expected, it gave way 
under this additional weight, and, with a loud 
crash, Phil, the lamp, the books, and Dabney 
himself, were landed on the floor in darkness. 

“ Quick ! quick ! bring a light ! I’ve broken 
my leg, I do believe !” roared Phil. 

“And serves you right if you have,” said 
Bonner. “ Here, Maxwell, don’t you hear ? 
Run down into the housekeeper’s room and 
ask her for some candles. Stay ; you go, Ran- 
dolph.” 

“ Willingly,” replied Christie, “ if I but knew 
the way.” 

“ It is plain to be seen he don’t know Mad- 


48 Through Trials to Triumph. 

ame Mac,” laughed Johnson, “or he wouldn’t 
be so willing to visit her. You had better not 
mention that there has been an accident up 
here, that’s all. Come, start yourself ! ” 

“ I’ll show you the way, Christie,” said Phil, 
springing to his feet with alacrity, notwith- 
standing his recent complaints of a broken 
member, and he dragged Christie after him out 
out of the room. 

“ What a kind fellow you are ! ” exclaimed 
Christie affectionately as they traversed the 
halls together. “You don’t know how I 
dreaded going to the housekeeper’s room 
after Johnson’s remark, and it was such a re- 
lief when you offered to go with me.” 

“ I don’t believe Dabney thinks I am kind,” 
answered Phil. 

“And why not?” asked Christie. “You 
took his part when the fellows joked about his 
coat, and though he appeared not to hear what 
was said, I am quite sure he did.” 

“ O I know he heard and felt every whit as 
indifferent as he seemed. There is only one 
way of annoying Dabney, and that is to inter- 
rupt him when he’s studying, which I took 
solid comfort in doing just now.” 


49 


New Compa,7iions. 

" Why ? ” inquired Christie. 

“ O because I felt like it ! It’s fun,” answered 
Phil. 

“I don’t understand it,” thought Christie. 
“ Phil is a perfect contradiction. He seems 
independent and manly enough sometimes, and 
yet I am sure he didn’t like it when I confessed 
I was trying to be religious. He defends a 
boy he cares nothing for, and the next moment 
purposely annoys him ; and now he is taking 
the trouble to go to the housekeeper’s room 
just to oblige me.” 

- But Phil’s conduct was by no means as re- 
markable as it appeared to his inexperienced 
cousin. It is ever thus with those who act 
without principle. They are carried hither and 
thither by every impulse ; first in the right di- 
rection, and then in the wrong, as unstable and 
unreliable as a ship without its rudder, tossing 
upon the deep, at the mercy of every wave, and 
drifting in whichever course the current car- 
ries it. 


50 


Through Trials to Triumph . 


CHAPTER IV. 


The First Temptation. 



HAT do I see before me ? Phil 
Spencer studying, as I am alive ! and 
it isn’t the last of the term either, 


when such a natural phenomenon might be 
explained. Dear me ! what’s going to happen ? ” 

“ Nothing, except that you are going to hin- 
der me, Bonner,” returned Phil, not raising his 
eyes from his book, and continuing to pace up 
and down the school-room floor, reading aloud 
in that sing-song, mechanical voice which he 
always adopted when studying. 

“ Hinder you from what ? ” asked Bonner. 

“From trying to learn my lesson, to be sure,” 
said Phil. 

“ Well, it is a pity, when you try so seldom,” 
laughed Bonner ; “ but I want to get up some 
fun this afternoon, and you must help.” 

“ I am willing to give my valuable assistance, 
only upon one condition ; ” and Phil shut up his 


The First Temptation. 5 1 

book with a loud slam, and confronted Bonner, 
as if he expected opposition. “ I want my 
cousin, Christie Randolph, admitted as a mem- 
ber of our society.” 

“ Nonsense ! Have you lost your senses ? 
Why, I would as soon think of your proposing 
an infant in arms ; for, ’pon my word, he don’t 
know any more. He is a perfect noodle !” cried 
Bonner, with characteristic freedom. 

“I notice the ‘perfect noodle’ ranks higher 
in the classes than you do,” said Phil with 
complacency. 

“That’s too bad,” remarked Bonner, with a 
good-natured smile. “ I don’t say that he 
doesn’t know more Latin, but he don’t know 
beans, and that’s flat. He isn’t our kind any 
way — too good entirely for such company ; he’d 
peach, and get us into no end of trouble.” 

“ You don’t know him, if you think so. He’d 
be as dumb as an oyster if he promised as 
much. I’ll answer for that. I’m surprised at 
you, Bonner ; I thought you had the gift that 
belongs to all successful leaders, to recognize 
merit when you meet it. I tell you, he’ll make 
lots of fun for us ; and if he’s ‘green,’ why, I 

remember the time when you yourself had 
4 


52 Through Trials to Triumph. 

not ripened into the very wise president I see 
before me.” 

“That’s just it,” said Bonner; “when I first 
came here I confess I was green, and didn’t I 
have to take it ! How the big boys did torment 
me ! Now I’m going to square up by taking 
my revenge on the new fellows.” 

It wasn’t the first time Phil had heard these 
sentiments, but somehow they never had 
sounded so ungenerous and contemptible to 
him before. 

“ If we should admit your cousin into the 
society,” Bonner continued, “ we are pledged 
not to bother him, and we should lose all our 
fun. I wont agree to it.” 

“ Come, let’s talk it over,” said Phil, in his 
most fascinating manner, as if he had but that 
moment broached the subject. 

“ What have we been doing ? ” growled Bon- 
ner. 

Phil ignored this question, and commenced 
to enumerate Christie’s virtues. 

“ He’s good-natured, obliging, and real gen- 
erous. His father is awful rich, too.” 

“ Is he ? ” answered Bonner, with interest. 
“ How much allowance does he have ? ” 


53 


The First Temptation . 

“ Allowance, pooh ! ” exclaimed Phil, in his 
grand style. " His father don’t dole out allow- 
ances to him, you’d better believe ; he has what 
he wants, and is very liberal with it. Now if 
he were a member of our society,” continued 
this wily youth, “ he’d help us lots. The funds 
are remarkably low, as you very well know.” 

Jack Bonner hesitated. A brief struggle en- 
sued between cupidity and revenge, while Phil 
patiently waited for a reply. 

“ Money is no object,” said Bonner at length ; 
“ I would rather have the fun.” 

“ Very well,” returned Phil, “ this is the first 
favor I have ever asked of you. I have run all 
sorts of risks for the society, and am ready to 
do so again, if you will oblige me in this mat- 
ter ; if not, I shall resign my office, and you 
can get another treasurer. I hope he wont 
have as much trouble over ways and means as 
I have had. It isn’t very easy always to get 
money for our little spreads, and I wish him joy 
of the task.” 

Bonner was entirely unprepared for this ; to 
lose the treasurer— -his right hand-man, who 
was equal to any emergency — wasn’t to be 
thought of for a moment. Phil had great 


54 Through Trials to Triumph. 

ability as a financier; he could collect more 
money, and get a greater number of apples 
and ginger-nuts with it, than any other boy in 
school — a talent fully appreciated by his com- 
panions, who respected him accordingly. 

“ Well, well, Spencer, I didn’t know you had 
it so much at heart. Of course I wont oppose 
it, for one, though such a thing was never 
heard of before ; and I know the rest wont 
like it. I think it is uncommonly queer you’re 
so fond of such a noodle.” 

“ Give us your hand ! ” cried Phil with most 
unnecessary fervor, too much delighted at hav- 
ing gained his point to mind the uncompli- 
mentary manner Bonner spoke of his protege. 
“ You’re a brick; I always said it. I have no 
fears now but that I can push Christie in. I 
am sure you wont be sorry.” 

“ I wish I were,” muttered Bonner to him- 
self as he left the school-room, after having 
obtained the promise he had wished from Phil, 
to meet him in a couple of hours, with his dog, 
at the little saddler’s shop around the corner. 

In the mean time Phil sought Christie to im- 
part to him his wonderful good fortune, as he 
mentally termed it. He found him on the 


55 


The First Temptation . 

play-ground, listlessly watching a game of base- 
ball, which was being pursued with an interest 
and enjoyment perfectly incomprehensible to 
him ; but Phil, notwithstanding his haste to 
report the news, could not resist stopping a 
moment to applaud a masterly stroke before 
he put his arm around his cousin, and led him 
off to a quiet corner, where, under the friend- 
ly shade of an old apple tree, they could talk 
unmolested. During the few days that he had 
been at school, it was wonderful to Christie 
what little opportunity there had been for any 
of those confidential chats with Phil in which 
he delighted, for the reason that his cousin was 
always surrounded by others, or had business 
on hand evidently of the most pressing nature. 
In fact, Christie had been thrown very much 
on his own resources ; for, being shy, he had 
made no acquaintances among the boys, none 
of whom, in his eyes, could be compared to his 
handsome cousin. The prospect of a quiet talk 
with him, and the delight of being able to speak 
of his home and the dear ones there, brought 
the light to his big blue eyes, and brightened 
his quiet face, till Phil wondered how Jack 
Bonner could call him a “ noodle,” or feel for 


5 6 Through Trials to Triumph. 

him any thing but the respect and affection he 
himself entertained. Perhaps, too, he was sorry 
for having neglected him, for his manner was 
unusually kind when he inquired if he had 
been “ lonesome.” 

“ You see,” continued Phil, apologetically, “ I 
have had my hands full ; for what with the snares, 
the dog, and our secret society, I haven’t had a 
moment to myself, and almost lost sight of you 
altogether. It wont happen again, for I have 
as good as got you a membership in our society, 
and when that takes place you’ll be one of us. 
You understand the boys don’t cultivate out- 
siders, because they hamper our talk, and we 
should have to be always on the lookout not to 
let the cat out of the bag. After you get in, 
you’ll find this a very different sort of a place. 
It must be remarkably slow for you now, old 
fellow.” 

Christie had noticed the lull in the conversa- 
tion upon the very few occasions he had gained 
sufficient courage to join the group which Phil 
helped to form, and was glad to find, by this re- 
mark, that it had been prompted by no personal 
dislike to himself, as he had feared. In his 
desolate position, nothing could seem more 


57 


The First Temptation. 

attractive than to become one of any set ; 
but it was especially so since it proved the 
only means of securing more of Phil’s 
society. 

Christie was not a stupid boy ; as bright, 
perhaps, as Phil himself, though they were so 
different. If he lacked Phil’s quickness and 
force, he possessed that intuitive knowledge of 
character which is to be found only in sensi- 
tive natures ; and now, he felt convinced that 
these companions whom his cousin offered him 
were not safe. They did not care, in the least, 
for the things he had been taught most to rev- 
erence ; they laughed to scorn all law and order 
in the school, and were banded secretly together 
to break the rules and defy discipline. He 
knew the importance of choosing proper com- 
panions at the commencement of his school 
career. He feared his cousin’s friends would 
lead him into a thousand evils, and how could 
he pray God to deliver him from temptation 
if he voluntarily placed himself in the way 
of it. 

All this passed through his mind as he stood 
that sunny afternoon under the old tree, with 
the bright tempter by his side. But near him 


58 Through Trials to Triumph. 

stood one, all unseen and unthought of, Christie’s 
good angel, whom God had sent to guard and 
help him ; it was he who uttered these admoni- 
tions, and prompted him to tell Phil he did not 
care to be a member. 

“You really do not mean, Christie, that you 
refuse to join ? ” inquired Phil, hardly believ- 
ing the evidence of his senses, “ you can’t be in 
earnest.” 

“ I never was more so in my life ; but pray 
don’t be angry, Phil.” 

This was a most unnecessary request, for 
Phil’s astonishment was too great to admit of 
any other emotion. He had expected opposi- 
tion in getting him a membership, but that the 
honor should be rejected had not even occurred 
to him before* 

“I begin to think you’re a noodle, just as 
Bonner said,” he observed as he watched Chris- 
tie ; to mark the effect of his words “why don’t 
you wake up, and show some pluck ; you have 
plenty of it in reserve.” He added this com- 
pliment as a salve for the wound he had just in- 
flicted, for he saw by Christie’s flushed face 
that it had cut deeper than he had intended, 
and he felt really sorry he had hurt him. 


59 


The First Temptation. 

“ Come,” he continued, “ as a great favor to me, 
I wish you would consent to join ; any other boy 
would go wild over such good fortune ; there 
are only about a dozen of us, any way, the best 
and jolliest boys in the school.” 

“ Don’t talk about it,” answered Christie, try- 
ing to waive the question, as Phil grew persua- 
sive, and he began to feel his firmness giving 
way ; “ I am going to show my pluck by not 
joining.” 

“ Well, you’ll need it,” said Phil, sidling up to 
Christie, and lowering his voice to a mysterious 
whisper. “ I never before told tales out of 
school, but, for the sake of our cousinship, and 
all that sort of thing, I am going to turn traitor, 
and warn you that the boys have their eyes on 
you, and you will get dreadfully ‘ hazed ’ unless 
you belong to our society. It has only been 
through my influence that you have escaped 
thus far ; only last night the fellows were talk- 
ing of hazing you, but I put them off. Of course 
I can’t do that always ; the only protection I can 
offer you is to become one of us and haze boys 
yourself, and now, for the last time, wont you 
oblige me, Christie ? ” 

" For the last time, no,” answered he. 


6o Through Trials to Triumph. 

Poor child ! As Phil turned away the old 
feeling of loneliness and friendlessness took pos- 
session of him ; his arms instinctively stretched 
themselves out after his cousin, but he would 
not call him back. Why should he ? It would 
only necessitate further parley upon a subject, 
which, for his own sake, he felt it would be bet- 
ter to avoid. The certainty that the boys were 
about to haze him also oppressed his spirits ; 
the secrecy and mystery of the thing was horri- 
ble to him, and yet, with a philosophy and good 
sense which proved he was no noodle, notwith- 
standing Bonner’s assertion to the contrary, he 
made up his mind to bear patiently and good- 
naturedly whatever inconvenience they chose 
to subject him to, thereby making attractive 
that religion which so few of the boys under- 
stood or admired. 

God moves in a mysterious way, and the 
trials which we mark out as our portion here 
below seldom fall to our lot ; nevertheless we 
are not exempt from grief, temptations, and 
difficulties of some kind. They always sur- 
round the Christian path, and are fashioned 
by the divine Hand as stepping-stones to 
higher things. 


The First Temptation. 


6 1 


So, though the hazing which Christie had 
fortified himself to bear never took place, yet 
he had need, as we shall see, of the sweet con- 
solation which religion brings to carry him 
through trials to triumph. 


62 


Through Trials to Triumph . 


CHAPTER V. 



The New Teacher. 

r HAT will you give me for my news ?” 
asked Fish-ball the next day as he 
dashed up to a party of boys who 
were sitting on the doorsteps, waiting for him 
to join them before starting off on a tramp 
through the woods. 

“ I suspect you’ve been up to mischief by 
your looks,” said Johnson. 

“ 1 Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind,’ ” 
returned Fish-ball. 

“ Out with it ; don’t keep us waiting ! ” cried 
Phil. “ Have you had another of those hair- 
breadth escapes for which you are so justly 
famous ? ” 

“Do keep quiet, and let him tell ! ” exclaimed 
Bonner impatiently. 

“Well,” said Fish-ball, enjoying his present 
importance, “ we have a new teacher.” 

“ Bless me ! hadn’t we enough of them al- 
ready ? ” exclaimed Bonner. 


The New Teacher. 63 

“ No ; it is necessary to have an extra one to 
look after you,” laughed Johnson. 

“ I wonder what sort of a person he is,” re- 
marked Whitehouse. 

Fish-ball looked greatly amused, and, to work 
off a little pent-up vitality, commenced to dance 
an Indian war-dance, to the great disgust of 
the others, who were plying him with ques- 
tions. 

“What would you think of me for a teach- 
er ? ” asked he, brandishing a rod over the 
heads of imaginary pupils. 

“ I should think you would inspire a great 
deal of awe in the minds of us scholars,” said 
Johnson. 

“ Well, my fine fellows, our new teacher isn’t 
much older than I am.” 

“ Whew ! ” whistled Phil. 

“ And what is more, he’s an old scholar into 
the bargain.” 

“ Who is it ? ” exclaimed all in a breath. 

“ No one more or less than Dabney.” 

“ Who is your authority ? ” asked Bonner. 

“ Old Grim and Dabney himself.” 

“ What ! they took you into their confi- 
dence ?” asked Johnson, looking incredulous. 


64 Through Trials to Triumph. 

“ Not intentionally,” replied he. “ I’ll tell you 
how it all came about. I was playing with my 
best ball in the garden when it flew into Grim’s 
private study, and lodged cm the top of one of 
the book-cases there. Although it is forbidden 
ground, I vaulted through the open window to 
get it. While I was standing on old Grim’s 
much-valued encyclopedia, fishing down the ball 
with a splendidly illustrated copy of Shak- 
speare, I heard approaching footsteps. Not 
wishing to be caught trespassing in that way 
by the Doctor, I had just time to squeeze be- 
tween the book-cases and drag a big chair in 
front of me before the door opened, and Dr. 
Grimshaw, followed by Dabney, came into the 
room. Grim invited Dabney very politely to 
be seated, and then, taking the letter he offered 
him, put on his specs and commenced to read. 
I concluded, from the conversation I overheard 
between them, that some person who has been 
paying for his education has died lately, and 
left Dabney without the means of liquidating 
his school-bills. Grim told him he deeply re- 
gretted losing him ; that he was a faithful stu- 
dent, a fine scholar, and a great credit to the 
Institution. 


The New Teacher. 65 

“Poor Dabney, in the mean time, hadn’t a 
word to say for himself, as usual, but stood 
twirling his fingers and looking so painfully 
awkward and idiotic that I almost laughed out- 
right.” 

“I never before saw a fellow that didn’t, 
couldn’t, and wouldn’t talk,” said Phil. 

“ But he can talk,” continued Fish-ball. “ He 
was quite fired with eloquence at length, and 
said that he had read somewhere that there 
was no position in life which was not attainable 
by years of constant effort in one direction, and 
that he had plans for the future from which 
nothing should cause him to swerve. To fur- 
ther them he would accept any position, how- 
ever menial, whereby he could continue his 
education, and suggested sweeping the school- 
room, taking charge of the dormitories, or 
teaching the little boys in payment for his 
schooling. 

“ Grim seemed to think he might make him 
a very valuable auxiliary, and said that he 
might preside over our dormitory, keep the 
halls and school-room clean, and he would con- 
sult with Mr. Hunnewell at once about the 
classes he could teach. Exit Grim, Honey, and 


66 Through Trials to Triumph. 

last, but by no means least, your humble 
servant.” 

“What do you think of that for news ?” said 
Fish-ball. 

“I think it’s uncommonly mean,” answered 
Johnson, with a blighted look. 

“ I didn’t know you had so much compassion 
for the unfortunate,” replied Bonner. 1 

“ I have a great deal, especially when I con- 
sider that we are the unfortunates in this in- 
stance. Pray, how are we to have any fun with 
a teacher right under our noses all the time ? ” 

“ Farewell to all practical jokes, ‘ hazing,’ and 
that sort of thing, in our dormitory.” 

“ ( It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any 
good,’ ” said Phil, looking at Christie, who was 
walking toward them. “All the new fellows 
will like the arrangement.” 

“And Whitehouse will like it too. He wont 
have half so much preaching to do, we shall be 
so remarkably good now,” observed Bonner. 

“ I think certainly it is a good thing for all 
of us except poor Dabney,” returned White- 
house. “ The little boys will be much happier, 
while the big fellows will find that there are 
plenty of amusements left them quite as agreea- 


The New Teacher. 67 

ble, and a good deal more harmless than mak- 
ing others wretched.” 

“ Where are you going ? ” shouted Phil as 
his cousin turned a sharp angle on recognizing 
him and his companions. “What a forlorn- 
looking creature you are, prowling about by 
yourself! We are going to the woods ; come 
on. 

Christie’s face brightened at this invitation, 
for he was feeling as forlorn as he looked, and 
was just going to say he would be very glad to 
join them, when he heard Bonner whisper, 

“ Hold your tongue, Phil, we don’t want him ; 
one saint at a time, if you please.” 

“He shall go, too,” answered Phil. 

But Christie declined to be thrust upon the 
party, and started off on a solitary stroll. He 
met two boys, arm-in-arm, laughing gayly 
together as they trudged along, and invol- 
untarily wished he had a companion also. 

After awhile, however, he enjoyed his walk, 
even though he was alone ; for he had a strong 
love of the beautiful, and the loveliness of the 
scenes through which he passed had power to 
banish all unpleasantnesses from his thoughts 

as effectually as any living companion could have 
5 


68 Through Trials to Triumph. 

done. Roaming through the fields, now stop- 
ping to gather a handful of orchids, then idly 
chasing a glittering dragon-fly, or lying down 
to rest on the soft green moss while he watched 
the shadows and the clouds, the time sped so 
swiftly that it was almost dark before he reached 
home. 

Hurrying through the halls to reach the dor- 
mitory in time to prepare for supper he stum- 
bled against something, and barely escaped fall- 
ing. On investigation, the impediment in the 
way proved to be a pair of thin legs ; but as no 
other part of the human body was visible they 
seemed to Christie like supernatural ones, and he 
was wishing they would pick themselves up and 
walk off, when he discovered they were the be- 
longings of Dabney, who, concealed from view 
by the shutter, was sitting on the low window- 
sill, taking advantage of the last faint streaks of 
sunlight to read. 

“ I hope I’ve not hurt you,” said Christie 
apologetically, as he peered behind the shutter 
to get a glimpse of his face. 

“ No,” was the laconic answer. 

“ I beg you will excuse me.” 

“Yes,” said Dabney. 


The New Teacher. 


69 

“Are you not afraid of hurting your eyes 
reading at twilight?” 

Dabney shook his head, something as if a 
fly were buzzing about his ear, and continued 
his reading. 

“ Short speech sufficeth 
Deep thought to show, 

When we with wisdom say, 

Tes or no! ” 

sang a jolly voice. 

Christie looked up and down the hall, and at 
length caught sight of Fish-ball’s head, which 
was protruded to an alarming extent over the 
balustrade. 

“ Sociable, is he not ? ” continued he as 
Christie ascended the staircase. “ He’s teacher 
now, and on his dignity.” 

“ Teacher ! ” exclaimed Christie in surprise. 

“Yes, and there goes the supper-bell. Let’s 
go down and eat to his health in brown bread 
and apple-sauce,” said Fish-ball. 

“ O dear, I’m afraid I’ve lost my supper to- 
night ! ” cried Christie, looking in dismay at the 
aspect of his coat, which rolling on the grass 
had not improved. “ Phil says we forfeit it if 
we are not in the dining-room before grace is 


70 Through Trials to Triumph. 

said, and I am sure I cannot make myself pre- 
sentable so soon.” 

“ O nonsense ! you will be there in time. I’ll 
brush your coat, while you pay the same com- 
pliment to your hair.” 

“ But my brush, where is my brush ? ” said 
Christie. 

“ Here, take mine,” said Bonner, hopping out 
of the way of the water which Fish-ball, in his 
zeal to be useful, was splashing right and left 
as he poured it into Christie’s wash-basin. 

“ You’re all right now ; you can put on your 
cloak as you run along ; there isn’t a moment 
to spare,” said Johnson, appearing to take a 
most unexpected interest in him. 

“ What could it mean ? ” Christie asked hirm 
self this question as he was playfully dragged 
along by his companions. A sudden change 
seemed to come over the spirit of his dream. 
He could not understand it, but thought it was 
very agreeable nevertheless, and hoped it was 
the beginning of happier times for him. He had 
very strong social instincts notwithstanding his 
quiet manner. Having been petted and made 
much of at home all his life, his spirits were 
dulled and crushed by the neglect which had 


The New Teacher. 


7 1 


encompassed him since he had been in school ; 
but under the genial, magnetic influence of kind- 
ness he became again as merry and light- 
hearted as of old, and quite electrified Phil by 
his joyous chatter and gay sallies at the supper- 
table. 

“ What a jolly manager I am. It takes me 
to know which ropes to pull/' thought Phil, 
inwardly complimenting himself in the most 
lavish manner on the ingenuity with which 
he had brought about this happy result, without 
being suspected by Christie as the agent. 

Phil certainly did not overestimate his 
ability. He usually managed to gain his ends, 
though not always in an unquestionable manner. 
It had troubled Phil to see his gentle, warm- 
hearted cousin lonely and desolate. To devote 
himself exclusively to him was a bore, and Phil 
did not like to be troubled or bored either ; so, 
though it was unprecedented, he determined 
that he must be received into his set. To be 
sure, Christie's unwillingness to join the society 
was an obstacle, but then it was one which a 
little shrewdness and management on his part 
he thought might overcome. 

The moment Fish-ball announced that Dabney 


72 


Through Trials to Triumph. 

was to preside over the dormitory, clothed with 
the authority of teacher, and thereby do away 
with hazing, Phil determined to take advantage 
of it for Christie’s benefit ; therefore he pointed 
out to Bonner, Johnson, and two or three 
others, the gain it would be to them if Christie 
were a member of their society ; saying as there 
was no opportunity of hazing they would lose 
nothing, and get a great deal ; for Christie 
“ was up to his chin in money,” and would 
furnish capital for no end of “ spreads.” 

Now Phil said this without intentionally ly- 
ing ; indeed, he had great faith in his uncle’s 
wealth and liberality toward Christie, and very 
naturally desired that his friends should be 
made acquainted with the comfortable state of 
things. To further that end, and inspire the 
degree of respect he considered due to so near 
a relative, he had recourse to wonderful stories, 
indulging in two of his favorite propensities, 
bombast and exaggeration, without a thought 
of the sinfulness of so doing ; for, instead of 
terming it by the ugly epithet telling lies, he 
was pluming himself upon his cleverness in mak- 
ing things sound so grandly. 

The fact of the case was, that though Christie’s 


The New Teacher. 


73 


father had by no means the wealth which Phil 
represented, yet he was a rich man ; but being 
a conscientious one as well, he regarded his 
possessions not only as a blessing, but as a re- 
sponsibility, not to be squandered in gratifying 
idle whims, but as the means of helping the 
destitute and of alleviating suffering. He had 
striven to inculcate in his son the same philan- 
thropic views, and early taught him, in a 
measure, the value of money, the sin of hoard- 
ing it, the responsibility of spending it wisely 
and beneficently ; and though Christie had al- 
ways been in the habit of having money at his 
disposal, the sums were never large, and always 
were accounted for. 

The boys, as Phil supposed, were enchanted 
with the picture which his fertile imagination 
drew, in which Christie, as a member of the 
society, furnished the money for all possible 
and impossible “larks and it was unanimously 
agreed among them that he must be made to 
join them. 

“ Christie isn't the sort of fellow to be bullied 
or forced into the society, but he can be cajoled 
or coaxed to do most any thing,” said Phil, 
which proved that he understood his cousin’s 


74 Through Trials to Triumph. 

weakness, and took advantage of it oftener than 
was kind or generous ; and upon this occasion, 
notwithstanding the conversation he had had 
with him upon the subject, he did not despair 
that he should have it all his own way after 
awhile. 


Dr. Grimshaw ' s Request . 


7 5 


CHAPTER VI. 

Dr. Grimshaw’s Request. 

& S has been said, Christie was very happy 
at being the object of kind consideration 
and pleasant attentions. His heart 
swelled with gratitude and praise to God for 
all his manifold blessings. It seemed so strange 
that he was crowned with loving-kindness when 
he was so very unworthy, and as he remem- 
bered how impatiently he bore trifling annoy- 
ances, how he had chafed under neglect, he 
asked himself why he should enjoy all the 
benefits that prosperity confers, while poor Dab- 
ney was thrown upon the world without re- 
sources, or one earthly friend to guide or help 
him. 

Christie was mistaken in this particular, for 
Dabney certainly had a good friend in Dr. 
Grimshaw, who had the discrimination to see 
the good there was in him, which so many 
failed to find, hidden as it was by oddities and 


j6 Through Trials to Triumph. 

uncouthness. He appreciated his wonderful 
talents, his perseverance, independence, and 
invariable truthfulness, and deeply regretted 
his faults, which greatly impaired his useful- 
ness now, and might in time undermine and 
destroy all that was beautiful in his character. 
What Dabney cherished as manliness and am- 
bition, Dr. Grimshaw recognized as ugly little 
sprites called pride and selfishness, and, with a 
heart full of love and compassion, he determined 
to do all that a true friend could do to de- 
liver him, if possible, from these, his worst ene- 
mies, by inspiring in him an interest in some 
thing besides himself and his own success in 
life. 

It was about this time that, as Dabney was 
sitting one evening in Dr. Grimshaw’s study 
translating with his usual glibness a Latin ora- 
tion from a borrowed book, he suddenly stopped 
short, and with a great deal of confusion seemed 
unable to proceed. The Doctor was slowly 
pacing up and down the room, so familiar with 
the lesson as to make his corrections without a 
book. 

“ Medea, daughter of the king of Colchis,” 
prompted Dr. Grimshaw. 


Dr. Grimshaw s Request. 77 

Dabney repeated absently the words, but did 
not continue. 

At such an exhibition of dullness the Doctor 
stopped his walk, and bending over the back of 
Dabney’s chair, his eyes fell upon the stum- 
bling-block in his pupil’s way. It had nothing 
to do with Medea or the king of Colchis, but 
was rather a caricature of Dabney, drawn on 
the margin of the page, representing him in a 
very tight jacket, standing on the teacher’s 
platform, ferruling, with a gusto, a trembling 
pupil, who bore a very clever likeness to Chris- 
tie Randolph. The following doggerel was 
written underneath : 

“Quoth Pius the Second, 0 Dabney, quit! 

Don’t get so excited, or your coat you’ll split; 

For, between you and me, ’tis a very tight fit.” 

“ Whose book is that ? ” asked Dr. Grim- 
shaw. 

“ It’s Christie Randolph’s ; but I think he’d 
hardly caricature himself,” answered Dabney. 

“And I think he has been too well taught 
to caricature others,” said Dr. Grimshaw. 
“ Some one else has perpetrated that low joke. 
I cannot think him capable of such meanness ; 
indeed, he greatly interests me. I never met a 


78 Through Trials to Triumph. 

more lovely disposition in my whole experience 
as a teacher. I am afraid the boys take advan- 
tage of his good-nature and simplicity. I wish 
you would have an eye upon him, Dabney.” 

“ I haven’t the time, sir. There is his 
cousin ; surely he is the one that should look 
after him.” 

“ Very true ; he is the one that should do it, 
but I should hardly select him for any one’s 
spiritual mentor, and I fear he is the very per- 
son most likely to lead him into trouble, for 
Phil has no steady principle as the basis of a 
character which might be noble. He always 
acts from impulse, and has so weakened his 
moral sense by doing positive wrong in the 
name of fun that there is no knowing where it 
may lead him. Christie lacks self-reliance, and 
is too easily influenced by those he admires ; 
and I fear he may imitate his cousin if there be 
no counter influence at work. Will you not 
make an effort to help him to do right ? ” 

“ My first duty is to myself,” answered Dab- 
ney. “ I have an education to get, and many 
duties to perform, and I haven’t the time to 
cultivate friendships which can be of no earthly 
benefit to me.” 


Dr. Grimshaw ’s Request. 79 

“You are mistaken in that particular,” con- 
tinued Dr. Grimshaw earnestly. “Any thing 
is a benefit to us that can take us from our- 
selves and teach us sympathy with others. As 
you say, your first duty is to yourself ; but you 
must not forget the culture of your moral as 
well as of your intellectual faculties. Ambition 
is desirable, but beware lest it degenerate into 
selfishness. ,, 

The rich color dyed Dabney’s cheeks and 
brow ; the book seemed to dance before his 
eyes, and he could hardly command the tremor 
in his voice as he answered, 

“ Suppose no one cares for my friendship ; 
suppose I am only capable of exciting contempt 
for my poverty and awkwardness, or at best, 
pity, in the breasts of my companions. I don’t 
want friends ; I can do without them ; they 
would hinder me if I had them. I only want 
an education ; when I have that I am the 
equal of any one ; until then I am willing to 
wait ; indeed, I prefer it.” And he turned im- 
patiently to his lesson, as if to put an end to 
the conversation. 

The excitement under which he had spoken 
had spent itself ; but this little glimpse of his 


8o Through Trials to Triumph. 

inner life revealed a depth of feeling certainly 
incompatible with his usual indifferent de- 
meanor. 

Gently the good Doctor showed him the sin- 
fulness of indulging such feelings of morbid 
sensitiveness and wounded pride, and the in- 
jury he was doing himself by cultivating such 
habits of reserve, which, formed in youth, he 
would never be able to overcome. “ Moreover,” 
he continued, “ no person, however situated, is 
exempt from social duties ; for we are bidden 
to ‘rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep 
with them that weep.” ’ And he tried to exact 
a promise that, as a personal favor to himself, 
he would be a friend to his young favorite ; but 
he thought it was more to dismiss the subject 
than from any impression his words had made 
that Dabney at last consented to try and feel 
an interest in Christie, and serve him if he 
could. 


Sunday. 


81 


CHAPTER VII. 


Sunday. 



“ JTlS that you, Phil ? Why, you look so fine I 


didn’t know you,” said Christie as his 
cousin met him one Sunday morning equipped 


for church. 


“ Rather a doubtful compliment that ; as 
much as to say I don’t look like myself when 
I am clean. Well, Dr. Grimshaw explained the 
laws of gravity for your benefit the other even- 
ing, so perhaps you can understand the affinity 
which draws dirt and ink to my fingers. I 
have taken great pains with my toilet this 
morning, however, for I am going to have some 
fun in church to-day, aping Lawton, the ex- 
quisite.” 

“ I wouldn’t do it in church,” said Christie 
with the timidity he always displayed in oppos- 
ing Phil. 

“I say, Chris, don’t preach, but tell me 
honestly, do I look as tall and dandified as 
Lawton ? ” 


82 Through Trials to Triumph. 

Christie hated to dampen the ardor of Phil’s 
new-born zeal for cleanliness by saying no, for 
it had often occurred to him that if Phil would 
pay a little more attention to dirty finger-nails, 
muddy boots, curly locks, and such small mat- 
ters, it would add much to his personal attrac- 
tions. In fact, Phil seemed to have no more 
idea that order was heaven’s first law, than a 
scratching hen, and scattered dirt and confu- 
sion as ruthlessly around him. In certain 
quarters, among his aunts, nice orderly ladies, 
this sad proclivity had made him by no means 
popular, and something of a terror ; and Chris- 
tie, more than once, had been distressed to hear 
his idolized cousin designated as that “ unmiti- 
gated nuisance,” or “ troublesome boy, Phil 
Spencer.” If that irrepressible youth were 
present, these appellations were returned by 
some disrespectful answer ; and Christie had 
always been impressed with the idea that his 
cousin would get on much better in the “ man- 
sion on the hill,” as Phil termed his aunt’s 
residence, if he were a little more orderly ; 
therefore he expatiated upon his present be- 
coming attire, even allowing that by the aid of 
a footstool he might look as tall as Lawton. 


83 


Sunday. 

“Not that I care, as a usual thing, how I 
look,” was Phil’s rather discouraging reply, 
“ but, you see, Lawton has been making ex- 
traordinary exertions this morning to dazzle, in 
his cream-colored suit, which hardly ever sees 
the light of day except upon public Saturdays 
or some school exhibition. The fellows all 
crowded around him as if he were a puppet- 
show, admiring his clothes, his height, and 
distinguished manners. I couldn’t help laugh- 
ing at the last puff, for, between you and me, 
I always thought his manners silly. I told 
Whitehouse so, who was quite horrified, and 
asserted that they were inimitable. Inimitable, 
indeed ! Well, he’ll find that I can imitate 
them, as you shall see.” And Phil drew him- 
self up defiantly. 

“ Whitehouse wont look at you if you ape 
Lawton during service,” returned Christie. 
“The church is God’s temple, Phil, and it 
seems like profaning it to carry unholy, irrev- 
erent thoughts there. It was only this morn- 
ing I was reading a whole chapter in Exodus 
descriptive of the tabernacle ; and I couldn’t 
help thinking that if God was so minute in his 

directions to Moses concerning his sanctuary, 
6 


84 Through Trials to Triumph. 

what purity and holiness he must require in the 
hearts of his worshipers ! ” 

“ Dear me ! how much fun you lose by being 
religious ! ” exclaimed Phil. 

“ What I lose in fun, as you call it, is abun- 
dantly made up to me in true enjoyment. Don’t 
you imagine it is pleasant and joyful to feel 
that the greatest Being in the universe is my 
friend?” 

“Yes; but where are you going?” asked 
Phil ; for by this time they had reached the 
church, and Christie was starting to walk up 
the opposite aisle from the one which led to the 
pew they usually occupied together. 

“ I am going to sit in Dr. Grimshaw’s pew 
to-day,” answered Christie ; “I am afraid I shall 
be unable to fix my attention upon the service 
if I sit with you.” 

“You shall do no such thing,” said Phil, 
catching hold of his arm and wheeling him 
round. “ I wont interfere with you in any way ; 
you’re not obliged to look at me, you know, 
just because we sit together.” 

“ But it isn’t right, I know it isn’t,” answered 
Christie, struggling to free himself from Phil’s 
tight grasp. 


Sunday. 85 

“ Don’t let us have a scuffle in the vestibule. 
There is Grim coming,” whispered Phil 
insidiously. 

Disliking to make a scene, Christie, though 
he demurred, followed his cousin up the 
aisle, saying to himself that really he “ couldn’t 
help it,” when he must have known that by a 
little decision he could sit where he chose. 

Lawton, according to an appointment with 
Phil, joined them before the service commenced, 
and Christie, as he had feared, found it difficult 
to turn his thoughts in the direction suited to 
the place and hour. The first hymn of praise 
was being sung before he once raised his eyes 
toward his cousin. He did so just in time to 
see him leaning languidly against the pew, one 
arm behind him holding the hymn-book, while 
with half-shut eyes he sang, in tone and manner 
so like Lawton’s that the boys sitting near him 
knew at once whom he was imitating, and, for- 
getful that the eyes of a jealous God were upon 
them, were shaking with laughter ; and Chris- 
tie, after one or two fruitless efforts to keep his 
thoughts heavenward, gave up trying, and be- 
came as much interested as the rest. 

Phil was very much elated with his success, 


86 Through Trials to Triumph. 

and looked triumphantly at Whitehouse, who, 
with all simplicity and reverence, was following 
the service. Fearing that he did not notice 
him, Phil stood upon the foot-stool, and with a 
manner as foreign to his usual demeanor as it 
was natural to Lawton, he bent over the pew 
and passed him his hymn-book. In leaning 
over, however, he lost his balance, and fell to the 
floor with a terrible clatter. 

This accident occasioned a disturbance, of 
course, annoying those who were really trying 
to worship God in spirit and in truth, while by 
Phil’s more frivolous companions it was regarded 
as a joke at his expense, and was made the oc- 
casion of much undue levity. 

“ I say, Phil,” whispered Fish-ball as they 
were going out of the church, “ how well you 
did the exquisite ; quite cut out Lawton, didn’t 
you ? ” 

Which observation Phil, who knew that Fish- 
ball referred to his awkwardness, did not 
answer with his usual vivacity. In fact, it was 
noticed afterward that he never did enjoy any 
remarks upon this subject. 

“ I am provoked with myself for being so 
clumsy,” said Phil to Christie as they saun- 



9252 Phil’s Misfortune. 

In leaning over, however, lie lost his balance, and fell to the floor 
with a terrible clatter.— Page SO. 











Sunday. 89 

tered down the village street toward the 
school. 

“ We ought to blame ourselves for our foolish, 
irreverent behavior in church,” thought Christie, 
who by this time realized that the opportunity 
of being sanctified and bettered by an hour’s 
communion with God had been lost. Uncom- 
fortable and dissatisfied with himself, he walked 
awhile in silence ; at length he said, “ We 
have lost our whole morning ; suppose we have 
church by ourselves, out under the trees, this 
afternoon, before evening service. I have a 
prayer-book, a collection of sermons, and Watts’s 
hymns.” 

“ Done,” answered Phil ; “ I shall be ready.” 

But when the hour arrived Christie found 
him in no condition to keep the appointment ; 
for, having been joked and taunted by some of 
the boys concerning his late achievement, he 
turned upon his deriders and dealt them a few 
masterly strokes with his fist which called forth 
such loud howls from the besieged that it was not 
difficult to trace the spot from whence the noise 
proceeded, and brought to the belligerent’s heels 
Dr. Grimshaw and a couple of the under teachers. 

Phil was sent ignominiously to bed, conscious 


90 Through Trials to Triumph. 

that he merited the punishment Christie was 
in the school-room, and knew nothing of the 
fracas until he sought Phil to fulfill his engage- 
ment. 

“Never mind,” said he, after hearing his 
cousin’s version of his ill treatment by the 
boys ; “ I have my books with me, and we can 
just as well read here as under the trees, and 
perhaps more comfortably.” 

“You’re a good-natured soul, and that’s a 
fact,” answered Phil ; “ but suppose we let the 
church slide this afternoon ; I don’t care to be 
caught by the fellows doing up my piety ; it 
might not seem consistent after having just 
given two of them a good thrashing. Glad I 
did it, for they deserved it,” continued he, growing 
angry again at the thought of his grievances ; 
“ besides, I hate a prig, so go it in ‘ Frank Wild- 
mans Adventures .’ I have just got to the 
place where he is captured by the savages. 
Fire away, Christie.” 

“No, I shall notread that to-day,” replied he 
with a decision which, if oftener exercised, 
would have saved him many a sorrowful hour. 
“It is not a proper story for Sunday. I have 
misspent my morning, and now, as far as 


Sunday. gi 

possible, I must make it up. I wont compel you 
to listen to me, though ; I can just as well read 
to myself.” 

“ I would like to have you read aloud ; but 
the boys,” suggested Phil. 

“ O if that is what you mind,” said Christie, 
“ they shall know nothing about it. Dabney is 
the only one in the room besides ourselves, and, 
as usual, he is too much interested in his own 
book to notice what other people are doing. If 
any one else comes in, of course I can stop 
reading.” 

“ Well, proceed,” said Phil, making himself 
comfortable among the pillows, fully determined 
to listen or not as it suited him. Disliking 
above all things to be alone, he was very well 
pleased with this arrangement as the surest 
means of keeping Christie with him. Christie 
had read aloud a great deal at home, and, from 
much practice, read very pleasantly. His voice 
was sweet and well modulated, his enunciation 
clear and distinct, and he had not that utter 
disregard of punctuation which makes it such a 
difficult task to follow so many youthful readers. 
It seemed very soothing and delightful to Phil, 
who, with half-closed eyelids and dreaming 


92 Through Trials to Triumph. 

accents, bade him “ go ahead ” as often as he 
stopped to turn a leaf or gain breath. 

But this state of things was not to last, for a 
rumor was afloat below stairs “that Spencer 
was uncommonly touchy concerning his acci- 
dent, and had fought two terrible battles with 
Briggs and Greene, in which he had got worst- 
ed, and was afterward sent to bed by Dr. Grim- 
shaw.” This precious item of intelligence was 
like a whiff of fresh air in August to Bonner, 
who, lying flat on his back upon one of the hall 
benches, had been wickedly complaining that 
there was no excitement going on, not even a 
game of football, just because it was Sunday. 

“ Here’s luck ; something to keep us from 
stagnation ! ” he exclaimed on hearing the news. 
“ I’m off to have some fun !” And he bounded 
up stairs, two steps at a time, followed by two 
or three others, who gloried in a row, because 
it offered them amusement, selfishly indifferent 
whether or not they caused a brother to sin. 

tf Spencer is a tragic one when he once gets 
roused, so look out for breakers ; he’ll pitch in 
right royally if you give him time,” said one, 
fully intending to excite his anger by breaking 
his small wit upon him. 


Sunday. 93 

Christie sat curled up at the foot of the bed, 
his chin resting on his knees and his book 
before him, when he was interrupted in his 
reading by Phil, who, looking wildly at him, as 
if they were engaged in a most disgraceful oc- 
cupation, whispered, 

“Some one is coming. Hide the books, 
Christie, quick, under the sheets here.” 

“ Hallo there, Spencer, what are you hid- 
ing ? ” exclaimed Bonner, entering the room 
just in time to discover that something was 
whisked out of sight. “ Why are you in bed 
at this time of the day ? Resting after your 
morning exertions ? O Philly, Philly, what a 
low bow you did make ! I assure you it im- 
pressed all beholders.” 

“Ha, ha,” laughed Fish-ball. “He stooped 
to conquer, but a little, just a little too far.” 

“Wont you favor me with a few lessons 
in deportment ? ” suggested another of his tor- 
mentors. 

“ Let me alone,” said Phil. “ I’m in bed be- 
cause old Grim sent me here for fighting 
Briggs and Greene ; but I am ready to fight 
the rest of you if you don’t keep still.” And 
having delivered himself of this speech, he 


94 Through Trials to Triumph. 

fell back upon his pillow and shut his eyes, as 
if about to take a nap. 

The boys, delighted to find one usually so 
good-natured in a mood so susceptible of being 
vexed, were by no means disposed to allow him 
the privilege of going to sleep, but continued 
to teaze him till, in a furious passion, he jumped 
out of bed and gave chase to his tormentors. 
Another fight might have ensued, to the great 
delectation of all the bystanders, with the excep- 
tion of Christie, who, distressed at the scene he 
was witnessing, and really afraid somebody 
would get hurt, begged and implored them to 
stop ; but as no one heeded his entreaties, he 
looked about for some means more potent of 
quelling the disturbance. His eyes lighted 
upon Dabney, who seemed as unconscious of 
the noise and confusion as if all was serene. 

“ I wonder he don’t put a stop to this ! He 
is teacher now,” thought Christie as he went 
up to him, and pointed out the proceedings 
which were taking place almost under his 
nose. 

Dabney was any thing but pleased at the 
interruption. He was proving to himself a 
demonstration in Euclid, the rules \yere \yorlt- 


Sunday. 95 

ing beautifully, the figures coming out right, 
though upon every previous occasion when he 
had tried to produce the like result he had 
failed. He must leave this delightful occupa- 
tion and part a couple of frantic boys. “ Why 
on earth,” he thought, “ if they liked to behave 
like savages or wild beasts, couldn’t they do so, 
and I be left in peace therefore it was in no 
gracious mood that he received Christie’s ap- 
peal, for as the disturbance was pointed out to 
him, of course he could no longer ignore it. 

“ Quit that noise, and stop fighting,” said he, 
getting up at length, and speaking in an au- 
thoritative tone. 

But Dabney had too long been regarded 
merely as a scholar to command ready obe- 
dience as teacher, and the two angry boys took 
no notice of his words until he dashed between 
them, and, with a strong grasp, held them at 
arms-length. 

■“ Spencer, go back to bed,” commanded he. 

Phil glared at his opponent, but observing 
that Dabney was not to be trifled with, and 
fearing being brought again before Dr. Grim- 
shaw, skulked off. 

“ What’s this ? ” said Dabney sharply pick- 


9 6 Through Trials to Triumph. 

ing up a card from the floor near Phil’s bed. 
“ Who has been playing with this ? ” 

No one answered the question, but the boys 
all looked inquiringly at each other, and it was 
observed that Christie’s face grew very red and 
troubled. 

“ Does this card belong to you ? ” asked 
Dabney of him. 

Christie’s first impulse was to deny all pre- 
vious knowledge of its existence, for he felt 
sure that he should only bring suspicion upon 
himself or Phil by confessing what he knew 
concerning it ; he thought he might parry the 
question by saying that he never had owned a 
pack of cards in his life, but it would be inten- 
tional deceit, and how could he be guilty of that 
with the words of the sermon still ringing in 
his ear : “ It is easy to deceive ourselves and 
imagine prevarication or deception harmless, 
whereas either is as sinful as lying, and is 
prompted by the same selfish, cowardly spirit.” 

“ I can explain how it came here,” returned 
Christie, “ for I just noticed it in a book of 
sermons which I have been reading aloud to 
Phil. Somebody left it in my book a long time 
ago, and I have used it ever since as a marker. 


Sunday. 97 

Indeed, we haven’t been playing cards, have 
we, Phil ? ” he continued, turning to his cousin 
to confirm his statement. 

“ No, we have not,” said Phil stoutly, looking 
straight at Bonner, who was vulgarly testifying 
his disbelief of the story by turning up his nose 
with his first finger. 

“ So it was cards you were hiding so cleverly 
when I came into the room ! ” said he, and he 
transferred his fingers to his pockets and com- 
menced to reel with laughter. “ That’s a good 
one, but it wont do for this chick. Phil Spencer 
listening to sermons ! tell that to the marines.” 

Dabney looked doubtfully at his pupils ; list- 
ening to sermons did not seem compatible with 
Phil’s tastes, and he wished, as long as he had 
been in the room all the time, he had noticed 
what the cousins were doing. 

“ O, do believe me !” said Christie, catching 
hold of his arm in an agony of entreaty. 

Dabney looked into the truthful, sensitive 
face so near his own, and the almost-forgotten 
words of Dr. Grimshaw occurred to his mind : 
" The boys take advantage of his simplicity and 
good-nature ; be a friend to him, Dabney.” 

" I do believe you,” said he, turning off to his 


98 Through Trials to Triumph. 

beloved Euclid again ; but unaccountably the 
problem had lost its charm ; his thoughts wan- 
dered off from the subject in the most unusual 
and distracting manner. A subtile something 
seemed to suggest that it was not exactly right 
for him to study on Sunday. “ Six days shalt 
thou labor and do all thy work ; but the seventh 
day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God ; in it 
thou shalt not do any work,” whispered Con- 
science. 

“Nonsense,” reasoned he, “it is my first duty 
to get an education. What an idiot I should 
be to stop studying, just because that boy has 
been reading a sermon ! It is right and proper 
that he should do so, but I have something 
else to do, a career to make, and nothing to 
help me but my own strong will. Queer, 
Spencer should listen to a sermon, but then 
they say he is very fond of his cousin ; ” and 
somehow the thought stole into his mind that 
it might be very pleasant to be sure of such 
love and unbounded admiration as Christie 
gave Phil ; that there might be other prizes in 
life worth gaining besides an education ; that, 
as the Doctor had implied, the course he was 
pursuing was making him hard and selfish ; he 


Sunday. gg 

was living for himself, entirely for himself. 
Then he tried to shake off the impression, 
murmuring that it was all the effect of being 
mixed up with the boys ; and he longed for the 
old life again, when no one had a right to 
require any thing more of him than to learn 
his lessons and recite them ; and in envying 
the lot of those more fortunate than himself, 
the hours rolled on until the bell rang for after- 
noon service. 

Although Dabney’s whole heart rebelled at 
his rough path through life, God’s purpose 
remained unchanged ; unerring Wisdom had 
planned it, untiring love had executed it. It 
was a rugged road, perhaps, but it could lead 
him better than any other to heaven. Little by 
little, the knowledge of this came to him, but 
not yet. 

It was part of his duty to see that the little 
boys got off to church in good order. As he 
marshaled his little force, and walked up the 
village street toward the church, he was uncon- 
scious of a pair of loving eyes that watched his 
movements with genuine interest. He might 
be rude and awkward, but Christie thought he 
should never dislike him again. Had he not be- 


ioo Through Ti'ials to Triumph. 

lieved his word when appearances were against 
him, and silenced his accusers by saying so ? 
Appreciative of kindness at any time, he was 
never more grateful for it than now, when he 
was so lonely in the little world in which he 
dwelt. Then, too, Dabney seemed so forsaken 
and poor that his sympathies were roused in 
his behalf, and he realized for the first time 
what a trial those new duties of his must be 
to him, since they took him so much from his 
studies. 

“ If I could only help him ! ” he thought. 
Had Dabney been a whit less cold and re- 
served, Christie perhaps would have run to 
him and offered, off-hand, his time, the contents 
of his gorgeous new pocket-book, or any thing 
else that could be of use to him. As it was, 
he wisely concluded not to offend his pride, but 
to watch for an opportunity for being of real 
service to him. 


Unpretentious Kindness. 


IOI 


CHAPTER VIII. 


Unpretentious Kindness. 
S&THEN people are sincerely desirous of 


serving others, the opportunity sooner 
or later is sure to present itself; and 
Christie, who now kept a sharp look-out upon 
Dabney’s movements, saw many ways in which 
he might be of use to him if only he were less 
timid himself, or Dabney more sociable and 
friendly. But Christie was setting his life daily 
to the pattern of Christ, and with his heart 
aglow with his love, he could not fail to benefit 
those about him. He did not know that by 
refusing to join in the many laughs indulged in 
by the boys at the expense of Dabney’s clum- 
siness and awkwardness in the grammar-class 
over which he presided, or that by his uni- 
formly gentle and respectful manner, in such 
contrast to the others, he had helped and com- 
forted him in a way most congenial to his proud 
and chafed spirit. Like many another, Christie 

made no account of those little acts of thought- 
7 


102 


Through Trials to Triumph. 

fulness, which, after all, affect one’s happiness 
as surely as more pretentious kindness. 

One morning, a few weeks later, Christie, 
with his hands in his pockets, was leisurely 
sauntering up and down the plank walk of the 
play-ground, watching a very exciting game of 
leap-frog, when he overheard quite a learned 
discussion carried on by two little fellows, who, 
sitting on the grass under a tree near at hand, 
were ostensibly studying their lessons for the 
morning. 

“I tell you, Tommy, you don’t know any 
thing,” said young Dickey, with most unneces- 
sary candor ; “ the State of Virginia is named 
after Queen Elizabeth. I heard the teacher 
say so, only yesterday.” 

“Pooh!” answered Tommy, with offended 
dignity, “that can’t be, for Queen Elizabeth’s 
name is Elizabeth, and not Virginia. Don’t 
believe the teacher ever said so.” 

“ I tell you he did,” said Dicky, by no means 
pleased that the information h& had volunteered 
was not accepted as authentic; “you just ask 
one of the big boys.” 

Christie, being appealed to, was forced to say 
that Dicky was in the right and Tommy in the 


Unpretentious Kindness. 103 

wrong ; “ for though Queen Elizabeth’s name 
was Elizabeth, she was a virgin, and the colony 
was named Virginia in her honor.” 

Tommy looked incredulous ; he seemed to 
think the name rather far-fetched, and contin- 
ued skeptical ; so Christie told him he had a 
nice little book in his desk in the school-room 
which told all about it, and he would go and 
get it for him. As good as his word, he was 
off at once for it. Upon opening the school- 
room door he was almost stifled by a heavy 
cloud of dust, which half concealed and half 
revealed the tall figure of Dabney, who, with a 
red bandanna on his head, was making the 
most frantic movements with a broom. It was 
plain to be seen he was no adept at sweeping, 
for such a frisking and rushing about, dashing 
hither and thither with no perceptible object 
save to raise dust and general confusion, was 
never seen before. 

“ He will never get through in time,” thought 
Christie, sincerely pitying the ludicrous-looking 
object, all arms and legs, using the broom to so 
little purpose, and longing, he knew, to be at 
his books again. “ That isn’t the way to hold a 
broom,” he at length ventured to say. 


104 Through Trials to Triumph. 

But no attention whatever was paid to his 
remark. 

“ Let me take it a moment, and I’ll show 
you the professional way,” he added in as 
jolly and pleasant a tone as he could com- 
mand. 

Dabney stopped brandishing the broom, and 
rested on the handle of it as he surveyed 
Christie ; the perspiration was running from 
his face, and he looked quite used up with his 
exertions. 

“You are in my way,” he answered in pant- 
ing incoherency ; “ go off.” 

Had Christie been actuated by any motive 
save that of pure benevolence he would have 
been disgusted by this uncivil answer, and have 
left him as he deserved ; but being desirous of 
obeying the Bible injunction, “ Bear ye one an- 
other’s burdens,” he persevered, saying that 
he should not be in the way, and only wished 
to help him ; and before Dabney could object 
was off, presently returning, however, with a 
broom. It was not a very promising affair, 
being almost worn down to a stump ; but as 
it was all he could find, he went to work with 
great briskness. 


Unpretentious Kindness . 


105 


“ It seems pleasant and home-like to be 
sweeping again,” said Christie ; “ I like it. 
You see, old Tim taught me, and I understand 
the business. He’s our man, and I used to 
help him sweep the stable at home every day 
when I was a little chap, and in return he told 
me stories. Tim tells uncommonly jolly ones, 
all about ghosts, fiends, witches, and such nice 
subjects. He’s a Scotchman. Don’t you like 
the Scotch ? ” 

Christie asked this question more to discover 
if Dabney were listening than from any other 
object. As Dabney bowed his head, Christie 
went on in the most engaging manner, and had 
about finished sweeping the room when, to his 
surprise, Dabney suddenly drew himself up and 
spoke as follows : 

“ I did not ask you to help me. This is my 
work, and I would rather do it by myself. 
Please go.” 

Before he could answer he caught sight of 
Phil, whose presence, in all probability, had 
provoked this ungrateful return. At all events 
Christie thought so, and hoped that Dabney 
did not notice that his cousin addressed him as 
" Biddy.” 


io 6 Through Trials to Triumph. 

“ Did you say you wanted me, Phil ? ” asked 
Christie. 

“ Yes, instantly,” returned he. 

“ Can’t come until I have taken up this dirt 
and Christie flourished the dust-pan with the 
dexterity of a housemaid. “You see, Dabney, 
this is the place where the skill comes in,” said 
he, shoving the dirt into the pan with a scien- 
tific whirl of the broom. 

“ Come ! ” sung out Phil impatiently. 

“Coming!” said Christie, with a final shake 
of the broom. Then he ran out of the room 
with Phil, thinking that at last he had been 
able to be of use to Dabney. The conscious- 
ness of this gave a cheerfulness to his face 
which would have done one good to see. 

“ What under the sun have you been about ? ” 
inquired Phil, looking with disgust at the dust 
which covered Christie’s jacket. 

“ Why, I went into the school-room for a 
book, which, by the way, I forgot to take away 
with me, and finding Dabney there sweeping, I 
stopped to help him a little, for I have been 
thinking for some time what a nuisance all this 
drudgery must be to him.” 

“ Hold on,” interrupted Phil ; “ don’t tell me 


Unpretentious Kindness. 


107 


you are going to turn housemaid because it is 
necessary for Dabney to do so ! A little more 
and the boys would have caught you at it. I 
wouldn’t have Bonner see you brandishing that 
dust-pan so handily for any thing. Where do 
you suppose he would think you learned that 
accomplishment ? ” 

“ Hush ! Dabney will hear you if you talk so 
loud,” said Christie, lowering his voice as he 
passed under the windows of the school-room. 
“ You will hurt his feelings.” 

“ He hasn’t any,” laughed Phil. “He is only 
a machine, and a very poor one at sweeping.” 

“ I know he is very awkward about it,” re- 
plied Christie, “and that is the reason I want 
to help him ; perhaps I can give him a few 
hints which may enable him to get through a 
little sooner. I pity him like every thing,” he 
added in school-boy vernacular. 

Phil felt very much inclined to get angry at 
this new whim, as he called it, of his cousin, 
but it was a good deal of trouble, and never 
paid with Christie, so instead he seated him- 
self astride a fence near at hand, and in this 
impressive attitude gave himself up to the task 
of arguing him out of it. 


io8 Through Trials to Triumph . 

“ In the first place,” said he, “ Dabney isn’t 
like any body else. You are only wasting your 
sweetness, for he doesn’t appreciate it.” 

“ I am not so sure of that,” answered Chris- 
tie. “ Dabney is odd, and his manner is cer- 
tainly very dismal, but he may feel more kindly 
than he appears to ; besides, wiser heads than 
ours think that there is no person in the 
world who is not made happier by receiving 
kindness.” 

“ If he be made happier by it you wont gain 
much,” said Phil. “ In a school like this it is 
every boy for himself, and the fellows will nat- 
urally think you are toadying him because he 
is a kind of teacher, and laugh at you for it.” 

“ Why, Phil, I thought you were one of the 
independent sort, and quite plumed yourself 
upon your not being biased by the opinions of 
others,” said Christie archly. “ You haven’t 
made out much of a case yet. Are these all 
the objections you can muster ? ” 

Phil stopped digging the ground with the 
long stick he held in his hand to consider, and 
then, brightening up, suggested that it made 
people dirty to sweep. 

At which remark Christie could not help 


Unpretentious Kindness . 109 

smiling, and looked rather drolly at Master 
Phil’s hands, which appeared sadly in need of 
a little soap at this moment. 

“ Well,” answered Phil, somewhat annoyed 
that the discrepancy between his preaching 
and his practice was so apparent, “ I suppose 
‘ the pot can’t call the kettle black,’ to be sure ; 
but I wish you wouldn’t be odd, and do so 
many queer things. It makes it dreadfully 
hard for me. I want you to be popular with 
the boys, yet you take so little pains to please 
them. You might join our society now when 
you know we all desire it so much, and it is 
such an unusual compliment to invite you to do 
so. And I wish you would not do Dabney’s 
house-work, or always wear gloves when you go 
out for a walk. It’s Miss Nancyish. I wouldn’t 
talk so much about Annie or Alice either. 
The fellows were quizzing you about them last 
evening, only you didn’t know it ; and the next 
time Lawton asks you to fill his pitcher, just 
take it on the sly to some one smaller than 
yourself, and make him do it. That’s the way 
I used to manage when they troubled me.” 

After delivering himself of this advice, “free 
gratis,” Phil got down from the fence and 


I io Through Trials to Triumph. 

walked on, thinking the while what a valuable 
friend he was to Christie, and regretting that 
no interested person had helped him over the 
shoals of his first year. 

But Christie wasn’t so sure that this was a 
help. He felt that whatever aspirations to do 
right he might have, Phil was sure to drag 
them down. Christ had said, “ Inasmuch as ye 
have done it unto one of the least of these my 
brethren, ye have done it unto me.” And yet 
in helping Dabney he felt that he should offend 
Phil. It didn’t seem kind or grateful never to 
heed his advice, or be guided by his wishes, so 
he hastened to say that since he objected to 
it he wouldn’t sweep again, but he wished he 
would help him think of some other way where- 
by he might be of service to Dabney. 

“ Better buy him a new coat,” answered Phil ; 
“ he needs it badly enough. The one he wears 
would scare the crows.” 

But this suggestion Christie dismissed from 
his mind as wholly impracticable, for he had 
not nearly enough money to purchase one, and 
then again he instinctively felt that Dabney 
would not accept such a present from him. 
On thinking over this conversation afterward 


Unpretentious Kindness. 1 1 1 

he knew that he had been guilty of great weak- 
ness in resigning the easiest means of helping 
him, just because, forsooth, Phil didn’t like it, 
and he felt disheartened at his own want of 
fidelity to a purpose which he knew to be a 
good one. But a resolute will and a patient 
heart are not things of spontaneous growth. 
They come from the grace of God, and are nur- 
tured only by constant effort and unwearying 
toil. So the faithful soul, laboring in Christ’s 
vineyard, may not despair, but learn wisdom 
even from failures and disasters. 


1 12 


Through Trials to Triumph . 


CHAPTER IX. 

Christie Gains a Friend. 

» OTWITHSTANDING Christie had 

promised not to sweep for Dabney, he 
soon found that there were other ways 
of showing his good-will toward him. Some- 
times he testified it by gathering a few flowers 
in his walk and laying them without comment 
upon his desk ; and then again by helping one 
of the little boys with his lesson, that Dabney 
might have more time for his own, or by lend- 
ing him a book ; for he had observed that, not 
being able to supply himself with all he re- 
quired, he had to learn certain lessons during 
recess and odd hours, when the books were not 
likely to be wanted by their owners. Thus, in 
his modest, simple way, he did many and many 
an act of kindness, occasionally recognized by 
a gruff “thank you,” though oftener even this 
small courtesy was neglected. 

Nevertheless all this thoughtfulness on Chris- 


Christie Gains a Friend. 1 1 3 

tie’s part was not entirely lost. It is doubtful 
whether kindness ever is. After a time Dab- 
ney began to expect these small attentions, 
and, though Christie did not dream of it, to 
feel disappointed when they were not forth- 
coming. 

One day Dabney had a particularly trying 
time. The weather was warm and uncomfort- 
able ; the sweeping dragged, and seemed more 
than commonly laborious ; the little boys ap- 
peared more than usually stupid and distract- 
ing, and it was very late before he could go to 
his own desk and commence his studies. For 
the first time in many days Christie’s lexicon 
was not there to greet him, with its inky cover 
and well-thumbed pages. Tired and disap- 
pointed, disgusted with his present life, and 
distrustful of the future, he went into one of 
the many recitation rooms to find another one, 
which he remembered having seen there. The 
room was deserted, and throwing himself into a 
chair, he rested his arm upon a neighboring 
desk, and his head upon his arm, too weary to 
think. Constant confinement to the school- 
house, want of out-of-door exercise, and hard 
study, were beginning to tell upon his health. 


1 14 Through Trials to Triumph. 

He was aroused by a gentle hand laid upon his 
shoulder, and a kindly voice inquiring, “ What 
is the matter ? ” 

On looking up he beheld Christie, lexicon in 
hand. Irritated at being caught in such a 
despondent attitude, he impatiently shook his 
head, but seeing the hurt expression in Chris- 
tie’s tell-tale face, he held out his hand ab- 
ruptly, and asked the reason why he always 
exhibited so much consideration and kindness 
toward him ? “ Is it because you pity me?” 

Surprised at the question, the color flashed 
into Christie’s face as he answered, 

“ I suppose it is because I have wanted to 
gain your friendship, you were once so kind 
to me.” 

It was now Dabney’s turn to feel surprise, 
and it was some time before Christie could 
recall to his mind the circumstances relating 
to the card. 

“And what do you think your cousin Phil 
would say to such a friend as you now propose 
to take to yourself ? ” 

“ O, as for that, Phil tells me he tried him- 
self last term to make friends with you, only 
you wouldn’t let him.” 


Christie Gains a Friend. 1 1 5 

Dabney laughed a bitter laugh, and one that 
pained Christie to hear. 

“ He ought to have said that he tried to 
patronize me ; the pompous, conceited little 
donkey ! ” 

“Phil isn’t pompous or conceited,” said Chris- 
tie excitedly ; “ he never patronized any one ! ” 

“ Hasn’t he ?” returned Dabney with a smile. 
“ I have been of the opinion that he patronized 
you every day of his life.” 

“ That proves that you don’t know him. O, 
Phil Spencer is the best fellow in the world ! ” 
And there is no knowing how long Christie 
would have stood there, loud in his cousin’s 
praises, if Dabney with a playfulness quite new 
to him had not pushed him off and told him to 
go to work. 

“You are not sick?” inquired Christie, look- 
ing into his pale face and sunken eyes. 

“ O no, merely a little tired. Run along.” 

But the pain in his back and limbs, the 
throbbing of his head, and the weakness and 
languor from which he suffered, all apprised him 
that he was something more than a little tired ; 
and though he managed to drag himself about 
for some days longer, he at length frightened 


ii 6 Through Trials to Triumph . 

the little boys by fainting as he was hearing 
a recitation. A serious illness followed, not 
dangerous, but tedious and painful. 

By suffering is wrought out in people, some- 
times, the power of loving and of appreciating 
their blessings ; and so it was with Dabney. 
As he tossed on his sick-bed day after day he 
had plenty of time for reflection, and he could 
not but feel that, somehow, his life had been 
miserably misspent, and no one could reason- 
ably regret it if he should be taken away. A 
spirit of gratitude was awakened within him 
toward all who showed any interest in him, 
and to none more so than toward Christie, 
whose knock was always heard at his door just 
after school-hours. At first his visits were 
short and formal ; but by degrees they length- 
ened, and became a great pleasure to both, 
cheering and comforting Dabney, while Chris- 
tie derived an equal benefit from them. They 
taught him the invaluable lesson, that we should 
not hastily judge those whose exteriors are not 
prepossessing. As the acquaintance ripened, 
and he came to understand Dabney better, he 
found many palliative and extenuating circum- 
stances which softened in a degree his faults. 


Christie Gains a Friend. 1 1 7 

Many noble qualities came to light, too, which 
formerly he did not dream he possessed, and 
so at length he learned to admire as well as 
pity him. 

These were happy days to Christie, for al- 
though the boys joked him a great deal con- 
cerning his selection of an intimate, still it 
was done good-naturedly, and he could but see 
that he had pleased Dr. Grimshaw greatly in 
gaining the confidence of his strange pupil ; 
but, better than this, he had won the ap- 
proval of his own conscience. We cannot 
do right without carrying within us this certain 
reward. 

There was only one drawback to his happi- 
ness. Master Phil, looking with rather jealous 
eyes upon this newly-hatched friendship, as he 
called it, gave vent to his displeasure in sundry 
jocose remarks upon Dabney’s appearance, 
which were by no means pleasant for Christie 
to hear. 

“Tf he only dressed like other people he 
would not look so awkward,” Christie had said. 

The remark seemed to amuse Phil, for he 
laughed very heartily, and replied that “if 

Dabney were only dressed up to the handle, 
8 


1 1 8 Through Trials to Triumph. 

he didn’t doubt that he would make a perfect 
exquisite.” 

But Christie’s faith in a new coat remained 
unaltered. He wondered if Dabney knew how 
much he had outgrown the one he had been 
wearing, and if he really could not afford to 
purchase another. 


Dabney's Story. 


119 


CHAPTER X. 


Dabney’s Story. 

IS doubts on this subject were soon set 
at rest, for on going to Dabney’s room 
one morning he found him already up 
and trying to dress. Since his illness he had 
occupied a little room by himself, and in it he 
and Christie had many a long talk. 

“Are you going to wear this jacket?” said 
Christie as he tried to assist him to put on the 
objectionable garment. 

“ It is this or none,” answered Dabney, tug- 
ging away to get his arms through the sleeves. 
“I have been congratulating myself since I 
have been sick, and grown so thin, that when 
I got up again I should fit the jacket, since it 
has refused to fit me. O dear,” he added, sit- 
ting down on the side of the bed to rest, 
“somehow the old, ugly feeling comes back 
with the old, ugly jacket. O Christie, you don’t 
know how wicked I used to feel when I was 
down stairs among the boys ; so discontented 


120 Through Trials to Triumph. 

with my lot, so angry and rebellious. My only 
happy hours were those spent in study ; then 
I forgot my troubles, and was unmindful of 
surrounding boobies, who, to speak the truth, 
are as scant of brains as I am of broadcloth ; ” 
and Dabney gave a spiteful little twitch at his 
sleeve in the vain endeavor to make it cover a 
very shabby wristband. 

“Whom do you mean by the ‘boobies’?” 
asked Christie. 

“ Why, all the boys ; there isn’t one of them 
that has common sense.” 

“You can’t mean that they are fools,” an- 
swered Christie. 

“ I suppose almost every body has common 
sense ; but precious few use it, so it all comes 
to the same thing as if they hadn’t it. You are 
the only boy in this school who can like a per- 
son for his own sake/' 

“You are mistaken,” replied Christie ear- 
nestly, remembering the conversation he had 
with his mother the evening before he left 
home. “ Our companions make a pretty fair 
estimate of our character, and what is good in 
us they like. No one can help liking what is 
lovely, you know.” 


Dabney's Story. 121 

" Then I must be very ugly, for no one likes 
me,” said Dabney with a grim smile. 

“ I don’t know how you can judge whether 
you are liked or not, for you wont give any one 
the chance of knowing you.” 

“ It is because I am sure the boys would be 
ashamed of the acquaintance that I withhold it. 
I know that I am plain, shabby, and awkward. I 
feel it every moment I am with the boys ; I 
deplore it when I am away from them, for, 
though I am proud, I am not vain. Vanity I 
despise.” 

O blind, blind Dabney ! He thought he knew 
his own heart ; he flattered himself that vanity, 
and an overweening love of self, had no part in 
it ; he imagined that he could foster and cher- 
ish a baneful pride, and be free from all the 
evils that follow in its train. Let us not deceive 
ourselves ; one sin unrestrained is sure to pave 
the way for others, and if we would be exempt 
from all those vices we most despise, we must 
root out and fling from us all our darling sins 
and corrupt inclinations. It was wounded van- 
ity which kept Dabney aloof from the other 
boys, and fired him with an insatiable ambition ; 
it was the littleness of pride which made him 


122 Through Trials to Triumph. 

shrink from all those who might consider him 
their inferior. 

“ Don’t look so distressed, Christie,” said 
Dabney, reading in his friend’s face the real 
sorrow he felt. “ I am going to cultivate a 
better spirit ; at least, I shall try to. If the 
boys were only like you it would not be so 
hard.” 

“ Have you always been so — ” Here Christie 
hesitated. 

“ Out with it ; been so what ? ” 

“ Well, different from other boys,” continued 
Christie. 

“ I don’t know ; I suppose when I was a little 
chap I was very much like the rest of them ; 
but ever since I have been old enough to make 
comparisons I’ve been discontented and 
wretched. I must have been young when it 
first dawned upon me that my home, somehow, 
was different from other homes. We were very 
poor, but in that respect not unlike our neigh- 
bors ; but while they all took it good-naturedly 
and as a matter of course, poverty was the cause 
of abject misery with us. 

“ My father was a poor invalid, querulous and 
fretful in the extreme, and regarded us children. 


123 


Dabney's Story. 

my sister Rose and myself, as unmitigated 
nuisances. He used to say we were a perfect 
drag upon him, and kept him poor, and was al- 
ways tormenting mother to give us away, send 
us to the orphan asylum, bind us out to service, 
or get rid of us, he didn’t seem to care much 
how ; but mother clung to us ; I think we were 
her only comfort. The saddest, most broken- 
down woman you ever saw was my mother. My 
father complained that she was a wreck, and 
used to tell very wonderful stories of her former 
beauty, which bewitched him into running away 
with her ; and then he would fall to cursing 
his romantic folly, and wishing she were back 
with her father again ; though how he could 
have lived without her I don’t think he saw 
clearly himself. 

“ Mother had been brought up very delicately, 
and, not being strong, made poor headway at 
supporting us all. As things got worse and 
worse, my father talked more and more about 
giving us away, and finally, as there seemed a 
fair chance of our starving, in an agony of grief 
she consented. 

“ I shall never forget the day we were taken 
off. I suppose it was to some sort of an asylum, 


124 Through Trials to Triumph. 

any way to a big house, where there were a 
great many people who looked at us, and talked 
about us as if we had no ears. Each one shook 
his head or laughed at me, and all agreed that 
I was the queerest looking little biped, or the 
plainest little monkey, they ever saw, and won- 
dered if my face didn’t ache from sheer ugliness. 
One facetious lady pointed her parasol at me, 
I remember, and declared I was perfectly 
fascinating, and when she was asked what she 
meant, she replied that I fascinated her like a 
snake, really she couldn’t keep her eyes off me. 
At which witticism they all laughed. 

“ To make a long story short, no one wanted 
such a plain child. I don’t know whether I 
was most glad or sorry. Though people do not 
always think so, it is quite as unpleasant for a 
child as a grown person to know they are fright- 
ful ; perhaps even more so, as they cannot real- 
ize, like their elders, the truth of that homely 
old adage, * Handsome is that handsome does.’ 
However, I was glad that I need not leave 
my mother. 

“ O how much I did love her ! ” said Dabney, 
relapsing into the broken accents of real, deep 
feeling, while a soft light stole over his counte- 


125 


Dabney's Story. 

ance and altered the whole expression of his 
features, till Christie could hardly believe it was 
the same person. 

“And did you lose your sister?” inquired 
Christie with great interest 

“ Yes ; every one admired her as heartily as 
they were disgusted or amused by me. She 
was a dear little creature, as beautiful as a sun- 
beam, and as affectionate as she was beautiful. 
When one of the ladies asked her if she would 
go to ride in her splendid carriage with her and 
be her little girl, she put one little arm around 
my neck and the other round mother’s, say- 
ing, ‘ Dis mamma good enough for Wosy. 
Wosy don’t want to wide unless Wobby can 
wide too.’ 

“ But they took her off, after having exacted 
a promise from mother that she would never 
visit her. I never shall forget that beast of a 
man, who declared that mother ought to be 
ashamed to cry when her child would have 
every thing in the world which money could buy. 
As if money were the only thing one wanted ! 

“I believe my father actually hated me when 
he found I was such an ugly little wretch that 
no one would have me, and scolded mother, as 


126 Through Trials to Triumph. 

if she were to blame for it, until I was so 
ashamed of my face that I hardly dared to look 
at any one except mother, who used to take me 
on her lap, and say she was glad I was plain, 
and she believed God had made me so that 
she might keep me with her to comfort her. 
The words seemed to burn into my little heart, 
and I would often go off by myself to think what 
I could do to help her. 

" One day I was cogitating over our troubles 
when it occurred to me for the first time that 
mother might go to her father for assistance. 
Brilliant idea ! Why had no one thought of it 
before ? I was quite delighted with my own 
cleverness, and ran to disclose it at once. It 
was something of a damper when I was told 
that my mother had both written to him and 
visited him, but all to no purpose. He was too 
angry to forgive her. I asked if I might go 
and try my luck with him ; but mother only 
shook her head, and assured me it would be 
of no use, and advised me to think no more 
about it. 

“ But I did think of it, especially in the night, 
while tossing, tumbling, and fretting myself al- 
most into a fever over the troubles which my par- 


127 


Dabney 's Story. 

ents discussed during the day, until at last I 
made the bold resolve to go on my own respon- 
sibility. I was sure I could make my grand- 
father listen to me, I should plead my mother’s 
case so well ; and then I had glorious visions of 
his forgiving, helping, and loving her, and our 
all living together in comfort and splendor to 
the end of our days, just as they do in the story 
books. 

“ I took Tommy Magee into my confidence, 
and asked him to help me find my grandfa- 
ther’s house, which I knew to be at the other 
end of the town. Tommy lived on the floor 
above us. He was in the newspaper business, 
and knew all about the city, consequently was 
quite looked up to by the boys in the neighbor- 
hood. The first time I discussed the matter 
with him he pulled down the corners of his 
eyes with his hands and ran out his tongue, 
I suppose to express the hopelessness of the 
enterprise ; but I promised him no end of mar- 
bles if I was successful — real bona fide agates, 
for which I knew he had a great fondness ; so 
at last he consented to go with me, and we 
were to start early the following week. 

“ As the day drew near I became nervously 


128 Through Trials to Triumph. 

alive to the fact that no extenuating circum- 
stances justified me in acting in direct opposi- 
tion to the expressed wishes of my mother ; but 
I knew nothing of patience, or a trust in the 
divine Will which shapes our destinies. I 
thought to take the whole thing in my own 
hands, and so, regardless of right or truth, I 
told my parents I was going with Tommy to 
help him sell his papers, and set forth on my 
delicate mission. 

“ I had spared no pains to make myself pre- 
sentable, and was much pleased with the tem- 
porary effect which soaking my head in a tub 
of water had produced upon my hair, persuad- 
ing myself that my grandfather would never 
imagine its original color to be red. As a 
special token of his good-will, Tommy lent 
me his big green breastpin, which I put on 
with great complacency. Notwithstanding 
these two gratifying circumstances, I was quite 
depressed in spirits as I gave a hurried glance 
at myself in the little piece of glass which hung 
on the wall in Tommy’s bedroom, together 
with various pictures, cut from pictorial papers 
which wouldn’t sell. The words 4 queer-look- 
ing little biped, and ugly little monkey’ rang 


129 


Dabney's Story. 

their changes in my ears. 1 mustered up cour- 
age to ask Tommy if he thought I would do, 
which modest question he answered with en- 
gaging frankness, saying that I wasn’t exactly 
the sort of chap that would make a grandfather 
hanker to claim me, yet not such a dreadful- 
looking youngster either. 

“ I was very tired by the time we reached 
the street in which my grandfather lived. The 
houses looked so grand and imposing that my 
courage utterly failed me, and it quite took my 
breath away when Tommy stopped before one 
of them, and asserted that it was my grandfa- 
ther’s. Tremblingly I rang the bell at the area 
door ; but, taking us for beggars, we were sent 
away with such dispatch that even Tommy, the 
dauntless, had not time to lift his voice in pro- 
testation. Rather crestfallen, we sat down on 
the curbstone and talked the matter over. Tom- 
my was for “ pushing the thing through,” as he 
termed it, while I was for giving up and going 
home. It was not until he had artfully put for- 
ward the chances that I might yet live in that 
magnificent house, with a pony to drive, and 
plenty to eat, that I agreed to make another 
effort to further that end. 


130 Through Trials to Triumph. 

“ At this juncture a young man came out of 
the house, and Tommy, marching boldly up to 
him, inquired if Mr. Leonard, my grandfather, 
were within, saying that he wished to see him 
on business. The young man told us that he 
was at his office, giving us the address. 

“ So we started off again, and easily found 
the place, away down in the business part of 
the city. I stood a long time before the build- 
ing, jostled about by the busy passers, Tommy 
winding up my courage the while. At last I 
made a desperate plunge into the office, and 
asked for Mr. Leonard. A man pointed with 
his thumb toward an old gentleman seated at a 
desk engaged in writing. He looked up in- 
quiringly at me as I approached and stood 
panting before him, helplessly tongue-tied. I 
had pictured to myself the interview many a 
time, in which I was very eloquent, telling a 
very pathetic story, and touchingly asking his 
forgiveness in my mother’s name ; but reality 
always differs from imagination. I assure you 
I could hardly speak. I don’t know how I 
made him understand who I was ; but when 
I did his anger was something terrible. He 
called me * baggage ’ with low blood in my veins, 


Dabney's Story. 13 1 

and said that I was a hideous little thing, and 
looked just like my father. Finally I became 
as angry as he, and, forgetting the respect due 
to an old gentleman, I told him I would have 
none of his help if he would give it to me ; that 
I would be a great man yet, and snap my fin- 
gers in his face. At which remark he laughed 
very heartily, and hoped I wouldn’t be any 
more shiftless than my father, assuring me that 
if he sent me whining to him again he should 
have me kicked out of the office. 

“ Well, somehow I got out of that place, and 
there, on the sidewalk, stood Tommy Magee 
awaiting me. He seemed somewhat crushed 
when he found that there was no prospect of 
marbles, but soon forgot his disappointment in 
condoling with me. I am afraid we indulged a 
great many evil thoughts and unchristian wishes 
on our way home, which harmed us a great deal 
more than they did my grandfather. 

“ We concluded to say nothing about our 
exploit to my mother, as it would only make 
her uncomfortable. I was forced to confess to 
myself that I had in all probability done more 
harm than good by my disobedience, and I 
couldn’t help observing to Tommy that I 


132 Through Trials to Triumph. 

wished I had asked the advice of some one 
older and wiser than myself. 

“‘Didn’t you consult me?’ inquired he, in a 
tone of mild correction. ‘You just wait until 
you are President of the United States, and then 
we’ll be even with the old gentleman.’ 

“ So nothing came of my visit to my grand- 
father but a settled determination on my part 
to become something great ; and though I have 
rather given up the idea of the Presidency, I am 
bound to be somebody yet. A short time after 
this my father died, and my mother opened a 
boarding-house. Of course, as she had no money 
or credit it was but a sorry shanty, and our 
boarders were of the commonest class ; but hum- 
ble people may have kind hearts, and a friend 
was raised up for us at last in one of the board- 
ers, a coarse, rough man, who pitied my mother, 
and, seeing what a taste I had for books, offered 
to pay my tuition at a good school for her sake. 
My mother was very ambitious for me, and I 
believe it was the happiest day of her life when 
she saw that there was a prospect of my get- 
ting an education and being a gentleman, as she 
used fondly to say. 

“ I came here with but one idea in my head, 


133 


Dabney's Story. 

and that was to gain knowledge, that I might 
the sooner be able to take care of her. I won- 
dered greatly, at first, for what object most of 
the boys left their homes ; certainly it could not 
be to improve themselves, I thought, for they 
never missed an opportunity of shirking recita- 
tions, and spent more time in contriving ingen- 
ious means of escaping study than it would 
take to learn their lessons thoroughly. 

“ Every vacation, on going home, I iound my 
mother more and more feeble, and as I realized 
that she was slowly wearing out, I was almost 
frantic with grief, and begged that I might re- 
main at home and go into the newspaper busi- 
ness with Tommy Magee, or engage in some 
pursuit which might enable me to be near her. 
But she had set her heart upon my having the 
advantage of education, and every term saw me 
back again, more and more in earnest than ever 
to learn and get through with school ; until 
study became a habit with me, and I was what 
the boys call a ‘ dig.’ I grew impatient of any 
interruption. Any thing but study seemed a 
waste of time, and yet it was of no avail ; 
before I could be of use to her, my mother died.” 

Here Dabney’s voice trembled, while he hid 
9 


134 Through Trials to Triumph . 

his face in his hands and the big tears forced 
themselves through his thin fingers. 

“ It seems like such a wasted life, so devoid 
of happiness, so filled with needless suffering 
and sorrow,” resumed he at length, referring to 
his mother. 

So felt the unthinking boy. Do we not all of 
us know of lives which seem to be made up en- 
tirely of hardships— some who must fain be con- 
tent with merely looking at the promised land, 
before they are taken hence to complete in a 
world beyond the real life which was generated 
by trials, and nurtured by the constant per- 
formance of hard duties ? Who shall say that 
these are not the truly blessed ? Who shall 
question the justice of a loving Father? 

“ Have you no friends ? ” asked Christie 
tenderly. 

“ None whatever, since I lost a few weeks ago 
the kind soul who so long and generously be- 
friended me.” 

“ What has become of Tommy Magee ? ” 

“ O, I have lost sight of him since we moved 
from his neighborhood.” 

“ Certainly Dr. Grimshaw is your friend,” ob- 
served Christie. 


135 


Dabney's Story . 

“ He has been very kind to me, it is true,” 
returned Dabney thoughtfully. “ You know 
he gives me my board and tuition for the little 
I can do for him. I should get along very well 
if it were not for books and clothes. But there is 
the school-bell, Christie ; I am ashamed of hav- 
ing wasted your time with my futile complaints 
and gloomy recollections ; ” and Dabney once 
more assumed the composed and indifferent 
manner in which he usually disguised his 
feelings. 

Christie left his friend with a sad heart ; he 
felt so powerless to assist him, so unequal to the 
task of cheering him. He could only hope that 
Dabney would carry his troubles to his heavenly 
Father, for there he would be secure of help 
and consolation such as no earthly friend could 
give, there he would find a fountain of love and 
sympathy never to run dry. 

Instead of going to Dabney’s room directly 
after school-hours, as Christie had been wont 
to do of late, he might have been seen this day 
escaping from the play-ground, and pacing 
slowly up and down the shaded path which led 
through the quiet lawn, deep in cogitation. It 
ended in his returning to the house, and writing 


136 Through Trials to Triumph. 

a long letter. A good deal of paper was wasted, 
and some hours were consumed in composing 
this to his entire satisfaction ; but at length he 
sealed the envelope with a sigh of relief, and 
carried it himself to the post-office, that there 
might be no delay in its reaching its destination. 
Then he went about the school for a few days, 
expectant and happy as might be. 


The Troublesome Letter. 


137 


CHAPTER XI. 


The Troublesome Letter. 


“ HAT has happened?” asked Fish- 



ball one morning of the boys, who, 
crowding and jostling each other, 


were making a grand rush toward the street. 

“ Nothing more alarming than the arrival of 
the stage-coach,” answered Phil at his elbow. 
“ Come,” he added, addressing Christie, “ let us 
go to the post-office and see what is in the 
mail ; ” and catching him by the ear he pulled 
him along. 

“ Hands off,” laughed Christie. “ I was go- 
ing to the office any way, for I am expecting a 


letter.” 


“ ‘ Letters to me are dearer 
Than the loveliest flowers in June,’” 


hummed Fish-ball, thinking that at last he had 
made a grand hit. 

“ It depends upon what is in them,” re- 
marked Phil, who had a vivid recollection of a 


138 Through Trials to Triumph. 

document but lately received from his father, 
which contained a severe reprimand for cer- 
tain misdemeanors that had but just reached 
his ears. 

“ There’s Bonner and Whitehouse with the 
letters,” observed Fish-ball. “ Behold the 
leopard and the lamb are walking out together ! 
Suppose we sit down on this bench and wait 
for them.” 

There not being room for all three upon the 
seat in question, Christie threw himself on the 
ground at Phil’s feet, and lazily watched the 
boys as they approached. Quite a crowd 
gathered here, and clamorously begged White- 
house to look over the mail at once and see 
which of them were favored with letters. 

“ Here is luck to you, Maxwell,” said he, 
throwing a missive at the little fellow. “A 
letter for Johnson ; two for Briggs ; nothing for 
you, Phil, or for Fish-ball either. Sorry, but 
can’t help it. I believe I have one for Ran- 
dolph. Yes, here it is;” and he flung it into 
Christie’s lap. 

It was the letter he had been expecting, and 
his face beamed with satisfaction. 

“It is from your mother, Chris,” said Phil, 


The Troublesome Letter . 


139 

recognizing his aunt’s handwriting. “ Open it 
quickly, and tell me the news.” 

“ My darling son,” read Fish-ball, giving 
great emphasis to the adjective. 

“ Stop ; it is very impolite to peep over his 
shoulder,” remarked Lawton. 

Politeness hath its seat in the heart; if not 
found there, where shall we seek it ? ’ ” observed 
Fish-ball. 

Lawton colored. It wasn’t exactly pleasant 
to hear his old composition quoted, but before 
he could reply a loud whistle from Fish-ball^ 
attracted the attention of all the boys. “ Just 
look at this, Christie Randolph ! ” said he, pick- 
ing up a ten-dollar bill, which had fluttered 
from the letter to the ground as Christie turned 
the page.* 

The boys with one accord eyed the money 
approvingly. 

“ That’s good,” observed Bonner. “ I say, 
Randolph, you’ve got to do the handsome thing 
by us. You are caught now. We all know 
you have plenty of money, so there will be no 
crawling out of your standing treat this time ; 
we wont have any of your favorite three-cent 

* See Frontispiece, 


140 Through Trials to Triumph. 

pop-corn entertainments, either. Ten dollars 
will go a good ways.” 

“You don’t suppose I am going to eat up 
my nice, good money,” said Christie, trying to 
turn off Bonner’s suggestion as a joke. 

“You sordid fellow! I verily believe you 
are going to hoard it.” 

“ I shouldn’t wonder,” laughed he, starting 
off on a run. 

Long before the money was received he had 
made up his mind to invest it in a way which 
decidedly interfered with Bonner’s appropria- 
tion, and fearing lest he should coax it from 
him, he did not slacken his pace until he was 
out of sight and hearing of his companions. 
Then, for the convenience of reading his letter, 
he sat down on the stump of an old tree by the 
wayside. 

It was just such a letter as he had hoped for: 
kind, sympathizing, and full of interest in his 
new friend Dabney, and concluded as follows : 

“You can act your own pleasure, Christie, 
about giving the inclosed money, or a portion 
of it, to your friend. You will have my full 
approval in devoting it to so laudable a pur- 
pose, Bear in mind, however, that you will 


The Troublesome Letter. 14 1 

receive no further remittances from home for 
some time. 

“ Select your gift judiciously, something that 
will be useful to him. You can, no doubt, ascer- 
tain what he most needs, and exercise delicacy 
in the presentation of it, lest you wound his 
feelings. Disregard this caution, and the gift 
not only loses its value, but becomes a posi- 
tive burden and mortification. Many worthy 
people either forget this, or are ignorant of its 
importance.” 

Christie read the letter over and over. He 
could almost have wept for joy at its contents. 
The only question that perplexed him was, how 
he could give Dabney a present in the most 
acceptable manner. As he was revolving the 
subject in his mind he was attracted by a large 
shady tree in the meadow just the other side 
of the wall. It looked cool and pleasant there, 
and, not wishing to meet any one until he had 
formed some plan in furtherance of his wishes, 
he climbed over the wall, and stretched him- 
self on the soft green moss in the shade. 

He had already decided to buy. a coat for 
Dabney, as good a one as the money would 
purchase, and made just like Lawton’s. He 


142 Through Trials to Triumph. 

tried to imagine him decked in it, when all at 
once it occurred to him that without a vest 
the coat would look almost as odd as the old 
jacket. But how was he to get the vest ? 
Dabney could not afford to buy one, and the 
ten dollars would barely procure the coat. He 
took out his pocket-book and counted the 
money it contained. He found just three dol- 
lars in change. It was all the money he had, 
and he knew that he should not receive any 
from home for some time, as his letter had in- 
formed him. He realized that it would be very 
uncomfortable not to have a penny by him, 
yet he decided that it should go with the ten 
dollars. 

In the shelter of his hidden retreat he pres- 
ently heard the boys as they noisily passed 
along the road on their way home. They were 
seeking a certain plant very popular among 
school-boys on account of its leaves, which are 
used by them as bladders. 

“ Hallo ! here are plenty of them,” exclaimed 
a voice which Christie recognized as Bonner’s. 
“ Who has a knife ? You have one, Whitehouse ; 
just help me a bit with these.” 

Christie distinctly heard the murmur of ffceir 


The Troublesome Letter. 


143 


voices on the other side of the wall as they cut 
the leaves from the stocks and stopped to test 
a few of them, but he did not notice much what 
was said until he caught his own name. It was 
Bonner speaking. 

“ O yes, Randolph’s father is very rich, and 
Phil tells me he never refuses Christie money. 
Why, he has heaps of it all the time, and I 
never knew him to treat us to any thing but 
pop-corn. Just think of the sneak’s running 
away lest he should have to expend some of 
his ten dollars upon some one besides himself! 
I declare, I hate meanness above every thing.” 

Whitehouse, rather short of breath and ex- 
ceedingly red in the face from blowing the 
bladders, stopped that occupation long enough 
to say that it wasn’t fair to judge a fellow’s 
generosity from such a trifling circumstance, 
and that he had always rather liked Randolph. 
Then, as the bladder took to decreasing, he 
closed his defense of the supposed absent one 
by applying himself to it with increased zeal. 

“ I don’t see what you can like in him ; he is 
as mean as he can be. I shall torment his life 
out of him until he spends every penny of that 
ten dollars on the crowd, see if I don’t.” 


144 Through Trials to Triumph. 

“ A great deal of money, I find, is apt to 
make boys selfish, and I am almost glad that I 
don’t have more than enough to squeeze through 
the term with. You must not be hard on Ran- 
dolph. Every one has their faults, you know, 
and he is particularly pleasant and obliging. 
Phil is very fond of him.” 

“ O Phil likes him because he has been 
brought up to ; besides, Randolph toadies him ; 
in fact, that is another of his virtues. Just see 
how he has toadied Dabney since he has been 
made teacher, and handles the reports. Ugh ! 
it is disgusting.” 

“ Well, I am glad if any one can fraternize 
with Dabney, no matter what his motive may 
be in doing so, for a more friendless, de- 
serted fellow I never saw. You know some 
time ago Dr. Grimshaw asked me to be more 
sociable with him ; but, O dear, it was no use 
trying ! He wouldn’t let me, and I gave it up 
at last as a bad job. I think the Doctor is very 
much pleased with Christie’s success, and I 
know Randolph is a little bit of a favorite with 
him.” 

“ I don’t doubt it, though how he manages to 
get around the powers that be in such an easy 


The Troublesome Letter. 145 

manner I can’t see. Lucky dog, but a mighty 
mean one.” 

Christie was very much surprised to hear 
himself thus discussed. He did not care so 
much what Bonner thought of him ; but he 
greatly admired Whitehouse, who was certainly 
a very fine, noble fellow. He always met him 
in the chapel at the vesper service, and though 
there was too much difference in their ages for 
Christie to hope for much intimacy with him, yet 
Whitehouse always greeted him with a pleasant 
smile or a few kind words. Several times also 
he had complimented him on his proficiency in 
French, and Christie was particularly anxious 
to stand well with him, so that his anger was 
even greater than his surprise. 

His first impulse was to jump over the wall 
and knock Bonner down ; his next to explain 
why he was so close with his money ; but then 
the words contained in the letter from his 
mother, which he yet held in his hands, con- 
strained him. The gift would not be accepta- 
ble to Dabney if the boys knew he had ob- 
tained the coat through him ; moreover, his 
natural delicacy forbade his making the matter 
public, though in doing so he might defend 


146 Through Trials to Triumph. 

himself against such an accusation as mean- 
ness ; so he clenched his fist, ground his teeth, 
and tried to keep quiet, and not to hear what 
followed, that his anger might not get the bet- 
ter of his judgment. 

Though Christie was not quick to take of- 
fense, and rarely exhibited temper, he was ex- 
ceedingly violent when roused, and now actu- 
ally rolled on the grass with the emotions which 
contended in his breast : anger, mortification, 
hatred, and revenge rankled there together until 
he forgot duty, forgiveness, and love altogether, 
and was ready to commit any unseemly act. 
He only remembered Bonner’s bullying dispo- 
sition, his continual interference with others, 
and, lastly, his prejudicing one against him who 
confessed rather to have liked him. Christie 
dearly liked to please, and the longer he 
thought of it the more angry he became. 

Picking up his hat from the ground, he ran 
as fast as he could after the two boys, who were 
at this time walking toward the school. They 
had a good deal the start of him, so that he did 
not catch up with them until they had reached 
the play-ground ; but Christie was too much 
excited to care for the spectators, and dashing 


The Troublesome Letter , . 147 

up to Bonner, breathless, and livid with passion, 
he gave vent to these words : 

“ You are a mean, contemptible bully, and 
try to wring money out of all the boys’ pockets ! 
I despise you as heartily as you can despise 
me, and I wouldn’t give you a cent should you 
beat me black and blue.” 

All the boys started at this singular outburst 
from one usually so modest and retiring, and 
inquired of each other what it meant. 

If Bonner had the clue, he was too much 
amazed to enlighten any one. The idea of 
that little puny fellow braving him in that 
public manner was something extraordinary to 
him. 

“ No,” continued Christie, almost shrieking, 
“ I would not give you a cent if you were 
starving — not if you were dying at my feet ! ” 

“ That will do, sir,” rang out a clear, stern 
voice. 

Christie looked up. O horrors ! it was Dr. 
Grimshaw speaking. 

“ What is the meaning of all this ? ” he in- 
quired. “ I am surprised, I am disappointed in 
you, Randolph.” 

Christie’s anger fled for the instant, his head 


148 Through Trials to Triumph. 

drooped, and he stood covered with confusion. 
What he had said he hardly knew. His head 
began to throb, and he felt so dizzy he could 
hardly stand. As he shemed actually incapa- 
ble of answering, Dr. Grimshaw turned to Phil 
for information ; but the bewildered cousin 
stood with his hands in his pockets, his mouth 
and eyes wide open with astonishment. 

“ Well, Bonner, perhaps you can account for 
this extraordinary scene.” 

“ I don’t know what it means, unless Ran- 
dolph took exception at my asking him to treat 
with the ten dollars which he received in the 
morning mail,” said Bonner, looking very much 
injured and innocent. 

“ I am afraid, sir,” said Whitehouse, “ that he 
heard some very uncomplimentary remarks we 
made concerning him as Bonner and I were 
walking from the post-office, though it doesn’t 
seem possible either, for no one was within 
hearing.” 

“ That would be no excuse whatever for such 
unwarrantable language. Since you cannot 
keep your temper, Randolph, while you are 
with your companions, you may retire to the 
school-room and learn forty pages of history to 


The Troublesome Letter. 


149 


recite the next half holiday. I thought you 
could control yourself better,” said the Doctor. 

Without a word Christie turned away. 

“ Can’t I go with him, Dr. Grimshaw ? ” 
asked Phil. 

“ No,” answered the Doctor, decidedly ; “ a 
little solitude will do him good. I wish,” con- 
tinued Dr. Grimshaw, speaking more to him- 
self than to his pupils, “ that parents would not 
be so injudicious as to send their boys such 
large sums of money to squander ; it does a 
great deal of harm.” 

“ How good I must be,” whispered Fish-ball 
to Johnson ; “ I haven’t had a penny since the 
first week of the term ! ” 

“ Dr. Grimshaw,” cried Whitehouse as he 
followed that gentleman from the play-ground, 
“ I don’t blame Randolph for feeling angry if 
he heard our remarks.” 

“ I blame him for not controlling that anger,” 
resumed the Doctor. “ I understand Bonner 
exactly. He is very exasperating ; but if we 
allow ourselves to harbor and act out our angry 
feelings, even when we are justly incensed, 
there is no knowing where it may lead us. 
Every one in the world must sometimes meet 


150 Through Trials to Triumph. 

provoking and malicious people, and it is of the 
utmost importance that we learn in youth to 
control ourselves in such society.” 

Slowly and sorrowfully Christie went to the 
school-room. He felt that he had disgraced 
himself before his teacher and school-fellows 
by such a display of temper. He could but 
see that the boys had some reason to think him 
mean by hoarding, as they thought, so much 
money ; “ but it was none of Bonner’s busi- 
ness,” he argued, “ what he did with his own 
and the resentful feeling returned. But this 
time he fought it manfully, praying for grace to 
be humble and patient, like unto Him who 
saith, “ For what glory is it if, when ye be buf- 
feted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently ; 
but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye 
take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” 
By the time the bell rang, and the boys came 
flocking into the school-room, the struggle was 
almost over ; he was almost ready to forgive 
Bonner, even as he himself wished to be for- 
given, but not quite. 

The little spark left to smolder soon rekin- 
dled into a flame when it became evident to 
him that the disgraceful affair was well circu- 


The Troublesome Letter. 15 1 

lated among the boys, and Bonner had given 
his own version of it. 

There is no vice more unpopular with school- 
boys than meanness about money, and Christie 
was made to feel the truth of this assertion 
during the morning by the palpable change in 
the conduct of his associates toward himself. 
He had one consolation, however, in the way 
of a little note, which came skipping under his 
desk, tied to a small stick. It was short, and 
characteristic of the writer, running as follows : 

“What a funny scrape for you to be in. I 
didn’t know you had so much spirit. Hold to 
the cash. I will back you. Phil.” 

This was not the only way Master Philip 
testified that he had taken sides with his 
cousin^ for in the play-ground he had vindi- 
cated Christie’s character for generosity in the 
loudest tones ; and if vehemency, a high-pitched 
voice, and a menacing manner could alone carry 
conviction, more would have adopted his views. 
Indeed, he was very ready to bluster, threaten, 
and even fight in Christie’s defense, and 
thought he displayed great courage thereby ; 


152 Through Trials to Triumph. 

but notwithstanding this show of heroism, it 
was the manifestation of the lowest form of it, 
being merely physical. One single act of self- 
denial and self-sacrifice, engendered by moral 
courage, was worth it a thousand fold. The 
heroism of self-denial and self-sacrifice is far 
more noble and grand than much of the mock 
courage which dazzles the eyes of school-boys ; 
and if Phil, instead of fighting, had acknowl- 
edged to his comrades that he had misrepre- 
sented the wealth of his uncle, and that Chris- 
tie was allowed no more spending-money than 
a great many others among them, he would 
have done him a much greater service, and dis- 
played a truer courage ; but Phil was eminently 
selfish, and by no means willing to make so 
mortifying a confession. 

When he saw that Christie was likely to 
suffer from the bombast he had indulged in, he 
felt really sorry that he had poured those exag- 
gerated stories into the ears of his gossip-loving 
companions. Ten dollars, an unusually large 
sum for a scholar at the Franklin Institute to 
receive, seemingly corroborated his statement, 
and he alone of all the boys that saw the 
money as it dropped from the letter at Fish- 


The Troublesome Letter. 153 

ball’s feet was amazed at the amount ; for the 
lavish Phil, who was always out of funds, often 
applied to his more prudent cousin for ready 
money, and knew as well as Christie how often 
and to what extent his purse was replenished. 
He was therefore very eager for an opportunity 
of seeing Christie alone, and ascertaining for 
what purpose the money had been sent. In 
the mean time he had no idea of contradicting 
his own stories, and continued to assert that 
his cousin was “ up to his chin in money, and 
could buy and sell all of them.” 

But Christie knew nothing of this. He saw 
with surprise upon first coming among them 
how many frittered away their money in sweets, 
and wisely determined not to follow their ex- 
ample. The urgent invitations to treat that 
were so frequently given him were neither 
agreeable nor possible to accept. Still he re- 
ceived them good-naturedly, regarding them as 
a part of the annoyances a new scholar must 
submit to. Upon this occasion, however, he 
not only lost sight of that bright pattern of 
goodness that neither temptations nor per- 
secutions could tarnish, and which it was 
his purpose and aim to follow, but his 


154 Through Trials to Triumph. 

heart was filled with anger, as we have 
seen. 

Every thing seemed to him cruelly out of 
joint on this day. He could think of nothing 
but his troubles, and his lessons were accord- 
ingly but half learned, and poorly recited. “ I 
am losing favor even with the teachers,” he 
thought as Mr. Hunnewell returned his book 
with a gesture of impatience. He had signally 
failed in recitation again, displaying thereby a 
stupidity which would have disgraced a much 
younger pupil. 

Time passed slowly and wretchedly until 
four o’clock, the hour when lessons were over 
for the afternoon, and as the bell rang which 
set eighty captives free, Christie gave a sigh of 
relief. Now he could have the opportunity to 
think over his perplexities in peace, and de- 
vise some means of getting righted with the 
boys. He was about to seek some spot where, 
secure from intrusion, he could give the sub- 
ject his whole thought, when he suddenly re- 
membered Dr. Grimshaw’s command to learn 
forty pages of history to recite the next half 
holiday, which would be on the morrow ; so he 
drearily reseated himself at his desk and took 


The Troublesome Letter. 155 

out the vexatious volume. A happy murmur 
of voices, joyous with regained liberty, came 
floating in at the open window. Every one 
seemed happy but himself. 

Dispirited and cast down, he felt that he 
could not wear the mantle of contempt which 
had fallen upon him within the past few hours. 
He had expected to be roughed, had made up 
his mind that his school-fellows would haze and 
torment him ; but all new scholars were sub- 
jected to the same treatment, and it would be 
done from no personal dislike to himself. He* 
was not prepared for any thing like disgrace, 
and willingly would have borne any physical 
discomfort rather than feel that he was de- 
spised for meanness. 

Whatever may have been Christie’s weak- 
nesses and faults, meanness was not among 
them. He had practiced generosity with his 
pocket-money so long that it had become a 
habit with him to give, his second-nature as it 
were ; and now, not for one moment did he 
relinquish his cherished plan of purchasing a 
coat and vest for Dabney. His pity for his 
friend was too genuine, his love too sincere, 
to permit him to give to Bonner instead, 


156 Through Trials to Triumph. 

whom he could only think of with hatred and 
bitterness. 

In this hour of dire necessity he did not 
turn again to God as his only helper, hopefully 
and trustfully laying his burden upon him. He 
was discouraged by his own sinfulness ; he 
could not pray. It seemed to him like mock- 
ing God to say, “ Thy will be done,” while his 
heart was filled with that stubborn resentment 
and passionate impatience of disgrace. He 
thought he could himself contrive some scheme 
of bringing back the old sunshine which had 
departed from him. Thus he doubted God and 
trusted himself. Is it strange that he wan- 
dered further from the path of duty, and that 
darkness and error encompassed him ? 


Dark and Dreary. 


157 


CHAPTER XII. 

Dark and Dreary. 

t BOVE the murmur of cheerful voices, the 
bustle, glee, and jest of the play-ground, 
the sound of strife was distinctly wafted 
on the breeze. It reached Christie’s ear as he 
sat alone in the school-room, pondering the 
subject which was causing him so much an- 
noyance. As it drew nearer and nearer he 
recognized Phil’s voice loud in dispute, and 
after a grand tussle in the hall, that young 
person burst into the room. He shut the door 
with a slam, and turning the key, defiantly bade 
the outsiders to “ bang away ! ” 

“ To whom are you talking ? ” inquired 
Christie. 

“ To Bonner and the rest of our set. I have 
been quarreling with them about you. Now, 
Christie, tell me all about the money.” 

“ It was sent to me from mother for a partic- 
ular purpose, and I do not intend to give it to 
Bonner.” 


158 Through Trials to Triumph. 

Phil nodded his head approvingly. 

“ It is yours, Christie, and the boys have no 
right to demand it of you. I have just been 
telling them so, and if I were in your place I 
would stick to it, on principle.” 

“ But it is so unpleasant,” said Christie dis- 
contentedly. “ Couldn’t you pay up some of 
your old debts just to help me out of a tight 
place?” 

Phil shook his head. “ I couldn’t give you 
a penny, if it were the only means of keeping 
you out of State Prison ; for I parted with my 
all this morning when I bought my new top. 
It’s a capital one ; ” and he drew it from his 
pocket for Christie’s inspection. 

But Christie’s interest in Phil’s possessions 
flagged for once, and the “capital top” received 
only a preoccupied stare. 

“ Wont you get me out of this scrape, then, 
Phil, by carrying a message to the boys from 
me? You may say that I sent for ten dollars 
for a special purpose, and therefore cannot 
spend it to treat them with ; but as soon as I 
have another remittance from home I will give 
the best spread that the money will procure.” 

Phil rather demurred at being the bearer 


159 


Dark and Dreary. 

of any such conciliatory message, but feeling 
that he had himself brought about the pres- 
ent uncomfortable state of things, he finally 
consented to carry the flag of truce to the 
enemy. 

He returned to headquarters rather crest- 
fallen, and reported to Christie that the foe 
were very incredulous concerning the “ special 
purpose,” and demanded to know what it was. 
“ Not that they have any right to inquire,” he 
continued, planking himself on the top of a 
desk, to rest after his distasteful duty; “but as 
long as we have humiliated ourselves so far, 
we might as well have no mystery about it.” 

Christie’s first impulse was to tell his cousin 
exactly what he intended to do with the money, 
but he checked it as he remembered Phil’s 
avowed pleasure in tormenting Dabney, and 
his readiness to sacrifice any promise for the 
sake of cracking a good joke, or making a 
witty speech, so he refused to answer the 
question. 

“Just as you please,” returned Phil, swinging 
his legs and pretending that he wasn’t in the 
least curious ; “ but remember, it is peace or 
war with the boys ! ” 


160 Through Trials to Triumph. 

“ Let it be war, then,” said Christie, reso- 
lutely. “ I shall have one ally, for you haven’t 
lost faith in me, have you, Phil ? ” 

At which question Master Philip looked re- 
markably gentle for him, and diving into the 
depths of his pockets fished up a miscellaneous 
assortment of articles, from which he selected 
a large piece of spruce gum, and having disen- 
gaged it from a long string, he offered it to his 
cousin as an emblem of his unaltered esteem. 

In the enjoyment of this dainty, and the 
society of his cousin, Christie for awhile for- 
got his troubles, until he was reminded of them 
by Phil, who commiserated with him upon the 
unlucky position he was in, and warily brought 
forward the advantages of every one’s being 
able to make money for himself. “ If you 
were not so squeamish,” continued he, “you 
could soon get straightened out of this snarl.” 

“ How so ? ” inquired Christie. 

“ O you are so strict I do not like to tell you ; 
you might not approve of my way of helping 
you, though in truth I can’t see the harm my- 
self. Don’t you remember I tried to tell you 
in the cars, when we were coming here, how I 
added to my allowance; only you nipped the 


Dark and Dreary. 161 

story in the bud by acting as if I were contam- 
inating you ? A fellow don’t like to be snubbed 
when he is trying to do you a good turn.” 

“Why, Phil, you know I never thought of 
such a thing as snubbing you. Do be good- 
natured and tell me what to do,” and Christie 
looked so despairingly at him that Phil began — 

“ One day, during vacation, I went to the 
Washington Market in New York. While I 
was waiting there for father, who was settling a 
bill, a boy came in with a string of partridges, 
just such game as run about the woods here 
unmolested. I was curious to see what they 
would bring. To my surprise, I found he sold 
them all at one stall for fifty cents apiece. 
Seeing what an easy way it was to make 
money, I struck up a bargain with the butcher 
forthwith, agreeing to send him as many 
partridges as he could dispose of for the 
modest sum of fifty cents a head, he paying 
the expressage.” 

“ How jolly,” remarked Christie, a bright hope 
illuminating his countenance. 

“Jolly, but risky,” answered Phil, “for it 
must needs be against the law to kill par- 
tridges at this season of the year ; there are 


1 52 Through Trials to Triumph. 

placards posted all through the woods stating 
that the offenders will be fined five dollars.” 

“ Then we can’t make any money that way,” 
exclaimed Christie, hope sinking once more in 
his breast. 

“ Yes we can ; only we shall have to be very 
careful not to get caught. I overheard old 
Farmer Wells complaining to Dr. Grimshaw 
that his pupils were infringing upon this law, 
and declaring that if he could only catch them 
at it he should serve them just as he did the 
village boys. I suppose that is the reason the 
Doctor cautioned us about it the other morning 
after prayers, saying that if we were unable to 
pay the fine we might get into the county jail, 
which would be horrible.” 

“ Very true,” returned Christie. 

“ Therefore we must take every precaution,” 
pursued Phil. 

“ You don’t intend to go in spite of all you 
have told me ? ” exclaimed Christie. 

“ Why not ? I know how to manage not to 
get caught.” 

“ But it is so wrong,” suggested Christie. 

“ There ! I told you I should get snubbed if I 
tried to help you.” 


Dark and Dreary. 163 

“ That isn’t a snub. I am very grateful, you 
know I am, and I would really like to go with 
you, only — ” 

“ Only I am so wicked ; it’s a pity I am not 
more like your crony Dabney ; ” and Phil tossed 
his head with a disdainful sense of his superior- 
ity. The easy grace which he so carelessly 
wore was never more apparent to Christie than 
now as he contrasted him in his mind with 
Dabney. “ What a difference there is,” he 
thought, “ between my two friends ! ” 

The difference was not merely external, for 
at the very moment while Phil was enticing his 
cousin to wrong-doing, a scene was taking 
place within the narrow limits of Dabney’s little 
room which bore an influence upon his life for 
evermore, for on bended knees and with an 
aching heart Dabney was crying to an All-mer- 
ciful father, “ Create in me a clean heart, O 
God, and renew a right spirit within me.” At 
last he was casting his heavy burden upon the 
only Being who could free him from it, and as 
he arose from his knees his mind was filled 
with light, joy, and peace. He realized for the 
first time the inestimable gift of salvation 
through Christ, and he longed to pour into some 


164 Through Trials to Triumph . 

sympathizing ear the blessedness of trusting in 
him. His thoughts naturally turned to Chris- 
tie as the one who would rejoice with him in his 
newly-found happiness. It was after school- 
hours ; he wondered why he did not come to 
him. In his eagerness to see him he left his 
room and sauntered through the halls. He at 
length saw him coming out of the school-room 
with his cousin. 

“ Remember, to-morrow at four o’clock,” was 
Phil’s parting injunction. 

“ To-morrow at four o’clock,” repeated Chris- 
tie uneasily as he joined Dabney. 

“ And what about to-morrow at four o’clock ? ” 
inquired Dabney. 

“ Nothing — I mean I am going to walk with 
Phil at that time ; ” and Christie flushed up and 
commenced to rattle away in the most uncon- 
nected strain. 

“ Let us go into my room and have a quiet 
talk,” suggested Dabney, longing to open his 
heart to his friend ; but for once Christie didn’t 
wish a quiet talk. He didn’t seem to be listen- 
ing to any thing that Dabney was saying, and 
finally broke abruptly away from him with 
some trifling excuse, and fled out into the open 


Dark and Dreary. 165 

air. He didn’t much care where he went ; any- 
where, he thought, to escape an accusing con- 
science. Dabney’s mood jarred upon him ; he 
had often longed to speak to him of the good- 
ness of Jesus, but now, when the opportunity 
presented itself, he wished to forget it alto- 
gether ; for had he not deliberately decided to 
do wrong ? 

Solitude is for those who are at peace with 
themselves and with others. In Christie’s pres- 
ent mood it weighed heavily upon him. Thought 
will not be put in shackles, neither will the cries 
of conscience be stilled at our pleasure, and the 
hour Christie now passed alone was perhaps 
the most miserable he ever experienced. He 
went to sleep that night without a prayer upon 
his lips, or a word of comfort gleaned from God’s 
own Word. It might shake his resolution to 
read or pray, he thought, and he was deter- 
mined that, whether right or wrong, he would 
not lose the little popularity he had gained in 
the school for the want of a little money which 

could be so easily procured. 

11 


1 66 Through Trials to Triumph. 


CHAPTER XIII. 

Dabney Turns Comforter. 

pq _ 1 

jTLT cannot be said that Christie really en- 
joyed walking in the path which he now 
proposed to follow. To be sure, he suc- 
cessfully imitated Phil’s jocular manner, after 
meeting him at the appointed hour on the fol- 
lowing day ; but he was secretly annoyed that 
he was accompanied by Bonner, who, though he 
seemed to ignore their late difference, was by 
no means agreeable to him. Indeed, his coarse 
and contemptuous speeches concerning all those 
in authority over him might well pain one to 
hear, and Christie could but feel that he was 
bringing himself down to the same level by 
being his accomplice in the disgraceful enter- 
prise upon which he was embarked. 

“What have you in that bag under your 
arm ? ” asked Christie of Phil as they stealthily 
crossed the meadow which intervened between 
the school-house and the woods. 


Dabney Turns Comforter. 167 

“Snares,” whispered Phil, looking about to 
assure himself that he was not overheard. 
“ We can’t use a gun ; the report would bring 
the whole village at our heels ; so we shall have 
to resort to snares. We can set them now 
without the least danger of discovery, and find 
our game all ready for us when we come for it 
a few days hence.” 

“ Why should the villagers object to our 
killing partridges if we want to ? ” inquired 
Christie. 

“ I suppose the law is made to prevent the 
game from running out. It is only during cer- 
tain months that we are prohibited from de- 
stroying it,” answered Phil. 

" That is reasonable,” thought Christie with 
a twinge of remorse. 

“ Ha, ha, your cousin is frightened already, 
Phil,” laughed Bonner as he noticed Christie’s 
disturbed look. 

“ By no means ! ” cried Christie, joining in 
with Phil as he proclaimed America to be a 
free country, and loudly denounced Farmer 
Wells or any other meddler who interfered 
with what didn’t concern him. 

■ “It’s uncommonly jolly, isn’t it?” said Chris- 


1 68 Through Trials to Triumph. 

tie from time to time ; yet, notwithstanding this 
continued assertion, it must be confessed he 
was very glad when the snares were set and 
they were homeward bound, and felt a positive 
relief when he found himself once more in the 
school grounds, though it seemed to him as if 
every one he met must know the meanness he 
had perpetrated. 

“ Hurrah, boys ! the fort is nearly finished, 
and we can have our mock fight, after all, to- 
morrow afternoon,” said Johnson exultingly as 
he met the boys, and placed a shovel in Phil’s 
hands, as a hint that his services would be ac- 
ceptable even at the eleventh hour. 

“ What’s the use of our exerting ourselves ? ” 
objected Bonner. “ I don’t believe we can get 
it done in time.” 

“ I tell you it is nearly finished already. We 
boys have been working like troopers all the 
afternoon. Dabney has helped us. You 
wouldn’t believe one fellow could give us such 
a lift.” 

“ Dabney ! ” cried all three in amazement. 

“ Yes, Dabney. He was walking about here, 
and seeing what a hurry we were in, actually 
volunteered to help us. He isn’t such a bad 


Dabney Turns Comforter. 169 

fellow after all, for he worked with a right good 
will until Dr. Grimshaw called him in. Sick- 
ness has loosened his tongue a little too, for he 
tried to be sociable.” 

“ Hallo ! Johnson has gone over to the ene- 
my,” laughed Phil. 

“ Well, call it what you like, I certainly 
think Dabney is different since his fever. He 
isn’t half so wrapped up in himself. I don’t 
understand it.” 

There was one of the group, however, that 
did. Christie was sure, although lie said noth- 
ing, that he had the clue to the mystery 
which perplexed Johnson. He knew that 
Dabney’s heart was at peace with God, and 
it was that which made him more kindly and 
unselfish. 

How long it seemed since he himself had 
been happy ! yet it was only a few days ago. 
What he was pleased to call a little sin had 
set him wrong at first, and now, in this short 
time, he had drifted so far from Christ that he 
dreaded his accustomed visit to Dabney lest he 
should hear His name. 

“ That is right ; come in,” said Dabney as 
Christie entered his room a little while later. 


lyo Through Trials to Triumph. 

He put down the book he had been reading, 
and made a place for him at the window over- 
looking the play-ground at which he was sit- 
ting. “ I was almost afraid you were going to 
desert me,” he continued in a cheery voice, 
while a real welcome shone from his bright 
gray eyes. “ I don’t believe, Christie, I am 
half grateful enough for your kindness to me, 
or, in fact, for any of my blessings. It seems to 
me to-day that there are hope, light, and joy in 
the world for me yet, for I read such a com- 
forting promise this morning : ‘ All things 
work together for good to them that love God.’ 
I don’t believe I ever heard that before ; at all 
events I never thought much about it if I did. 
It seems to clear up so much that troubled me. 
I used to feel so rebellious about mother’s lot ; 
now I can see that it was all for the best. I 
am sure she thought so. I can remember even 
now how she reasoned, pleaded with me, and 
strove to make me see God’s hand in all our 
troubles. * It is through trials to triumph,’ 
she used to say. O I hope I may never get 
hard or rebellious again ! But I mistrust my- 
self. I am afraid I shall soon tire of trying to 
do right You love Jesus, Christie ; you never 


Dabney Turns Comforter. 17 1 

forget your duty. Wont you help me to be as 
you are ? ” 

Help him to be like himself ! What did that 
mean, he thought, but to cherish bitter, resent- 
ful feelings ; to be filled with pride, and a mor- 
bid desire to please at any sacrifice of principle; 
to abuse the greatest privileges and stifle the 
strongest convictions ; to be guilty of breaking 
rules which many of the most thoughtless of 
his companions would scorn to violate, and yet 
he had dared to call himself a child of God ! 
Self-blame held him tongue-tied. 

“ You think there can be no pardon for one 
as sinful as I am,” said Dabney, mistaking the 
cause of Christie’s silence. “ So I thought 
once, but now I know that Christ is touched 
with the feeling of our infirmities ; that he for- 
gave David, who committed murder ; his disci- 
ples, who forsook him ; even Peter, who denied 
him.” 

“ ‘ His disciples who forsook him ! ’ ” repeated 
Christie, while keen remorse smote him as he 
conceded to himself that in the particular of 
forsaking him he had done but as the disciples 
did. “ O, Dabney,” he cried, “ I cannot help 
you ! I am too weak even to help myself 


172 Through Trials to Triumph. 

and then he poured into his friend’s ear the 
history of the past few days ; how he had 
thrown over his private devotions, stifled his 
better thoughts, and even gone the length of 
breaking school and State laws. “ I am so 
sorry, so miserable,” he continued simply. 

“ It is only to those who feel the burden of 
their sins that God offers forgiveness and 
mercy,” said Dabney gently. 

“ But not unless we renounce them. O, 
Dabney, you don’t know how hard it is to give 
up going for those partridges ! Not that I care 
for the sport, but the money they would bring 
me would be so acceptable just now.” 

Perhaps there was no trial which Dabney 
could better understand or appreciate than the 
one of being without money. Owing to his re- 
tiring habits, he knew nothing of the grand 
stories which Phil had so freely circulated con- 
cerning Christie’s means, and now supposed, 
from the few remarks he had gathered that 
afternoon while he was working with the boys, 
that Christie was hard pushed for spending 
money. 

As he could not help him in this particular, 
from motives of pure delicacy he forebore men- 


Dabney Turns Comforter. 173 

tioning the subject, but it was a bond of 
sympathy nevertheless. 

Dabney had lately discovered that there were 
utterances in God’s holy book which would 
meet the need of every heart, and so for Chris- 
tie’s sake he asked him in all simplicity if he 
would read from it aloud. The chapter which 
Christie selected at random did not fail to 
strengthen and help him ; and as the shadows 
lengthened and the chapel bell rang, calling 
those who would come to the house of prayer, 
no humbler, happier head was bowed there in 
thanksgiving that God was merciful to sinners' 
than Christie’s. 

“ It is strange,” thought Dr. Grimshaw as he 
noticed Christie’s calm and happy face, at such 
variance with the expression it had worn for 
several days. “ I can’t believe that boy to be 
selfish, bad-tempered, or stupid ; yet he has 
seemed all of that of late. I must watch him.” 

So, although Christie did not know it, his 
conduct was under strict surveillance for some 
time. 


174 


Through Trials to Triumph. 


CHAPTER XVI. 

A Walk to W . 

M OW that the friendship between Dabney 
and Christie was cemented by the same 
interests it grew faster than ever, and 
Christie became impatient that his friend should 
possess those artificial advantages which would 
give him a fair start with the rest of the boys, 
and for this reason he might have been seen on 
a certain Saturday morning applying to Dr. 
Grimshaw for permission to visit the neigh- 
boring town of W , but a few miles distant, 

which the boys often frequented on shopping 
expeditions. Christie had been there several 
times, and had often remarked a certain tailor s 
establishment, wherein, Lawton had informed 
him, were to be found perfect miracles of art in 
the way of coats. 

His request being readily granted, he flew 
to the dormitory to equip himself for his walk, 
when it became apparent to him that there had 
been other applicants to Dr. Grimshaw before 


A Walk to W- 


J 75 

him, and a whole party was dressing to go to 
the same place. 

Dabney, it seemed, was in blissful ignorance 
of the real cause of the annoyances Christie 
had sustained of late ; but, lest he might make 
any discoveries in the future, and be made un- 
comfortable thereby, Christie concluded to send 
his present anonymously. He had half a mind 
to give up the trip for that day, as he felt that 
it was essential that he should go by himself ; 
but holidays did not come very often, and, on 
second thought, he hoped to be able to slip off 
unperceived before the party was ready, and 
be in nowise inconvenienced by the boys. 

“ Vain are the hopes of man ! ” Certain 
suspicious acts were not lost upon Phil, who, 
sitting astride of a trunk, was watching the 
rapid movements of the rest as they were 
dressing in a hurry to be off. 

“ Where are you going, Christie ? ” said he, 
buttonholing him as he was leaving the room 
ready for a start. 

“ Let me pass, Phil ; I can’t stop to tell you 
now.” 

" But you must,” returned Phil, holding him 

fast. 


176 Through Trials to Triumph . 

“ To town/’ answered Christie in a low tone. 

“ I am very much obliged to you, but really 
I have a pressing engagement, and can’t go 
with you this morning,” said Phil mischiev- 
ously. 

“Who invited you?” laughed Christie. 

“ Why you, of course, intended to ; but — O 
don’t explain. I see how it is, now you have 
Dabney’s society mine is at a discount. 

“ Nothing of the kind ! ” said the luckless 
Christie, more eagerly than wisely ; “ I am 
going alone.” 

“ Attention, boys ! Here is another enter- 
prising spirit ready to join your expedition in 
search of treasure,” cried Phil, influenced by 
the kindest motives toward his cousin. 

“ I think I shall start on a solitary cruise,” 
laughed Christie, “ I am in such a hurry for my 
plunder.” 

“You might have to share it, you know, if 
you waited for the rest of us,” Bonner remarked 
significantly. 

“And he knows who would get the lion’s 
share,” returned Phil with spirit. 

“ Now we are in for a regular set-to,” said 
Lawton. 


A Walk to W- 


y 77 


But Christie did not wait to hear any more. 
Slipping out of the room, he turned his steps 
toward the town. The way was long, but, 
stimulated by the fresh morning air and the 
desire of being greatly in advance of the others, 
he accomplished the walk in a much shorter 
time than he had expected. From afar he 
discerned the small army of headless figures 
which stood around the door of Monsieur 
Fouchet’s tailor shop, to illustrate, for the 
benefit of the passers-by, the talents of that 
artist. 

Upon entering the establishment, Christie 
inquired for Monsieur, and passed a very satis- 
factory half hour in his society. Monsieur de- 
lighted in mystery — Monsieur understood the 
affair exactly, saying, 

“ It was un leetle present, that which mees- 
ter wished to give. C’est bien ; c’est tres bien ! 
He it would arrainge charmant.” And, ac- 
cordingly, he confided to Christie the way he 
usually managed such delicate cases, until that 
young person was quite charmed with Mon- 
sieur’s affability and ingenuity, and left fully 
impressed with the idea that all was going off 
to a marvel. 


178 Through Trials to Triumph. 

On his return trip, having dispatched his 
business, he felt a disposition to look about him. 
There was sufficient animation in the streets to 
amuse him. The shop windows looked very- 
gay and tempting, and as he sauntered along 
he stopped every few moments to look at some 
attraction which they offered, regardless that 
the sun was getting higher and higher, and the 
day becoming oppressively warm, until he found 
himself so tired, heated, and thirsty that he 
longed to be home again. He wished that he 
had money enough to ride, and was just exam- 
ining his pocket-book to assure himself that 
there wasn’t an odd ten-cent bill therein, which 
he had somehow overlooked, when he was 
clapped on the shoulder by some one, and on 
looking around found the boys at his heels in 
full force. 

“ I tell you what it is, Christie,” said Fish- 
ball, “you must shell out this time and give us 
a ride home ; we are all dead broke, and can’t 
pay for it ourselves. It is a screeching hot 
day, and flesh and blood couldn’t stand that 
long walk.” 

“ I would be delighted to accommodate you,” 
said Christie, looking very much wilted, “but 


A Walk to W- 


179 

I was just mourning because I hadn’t the money 
to treat myself to that luxury.” 

“O Christie, Christie!” exclaimed Fish-ball, 
pulling the open pocket book out of his hands, 
and taking therefrom a ten and a three dollar 
bill to show to the envious boys. “ What’s good 
for liars ? ” 

“ I have just spent that,” said Christie. 

“ How splendid it must be to spend your 
money and have it too,” said Johnson. 

“ I mean,” said the unfortunate, “that I owe it.” 

“ 0 gold, gold, gold, gold, 

Bright and yellow, hard and cold,” 

cried Fish-ball. 

“ Give back the little miser his money,” said 
Lawton scornfully ; “ seeing is believing. I 
have always thought that the boys were rather 
hard on Randolph, but now I know he deserved 
it all.” 

“ Every thing is against me,” thought Chris- 
tie bitterly. “ It is no use trying to clear my- 
self ; they wont believe me ; they think I am 
lying, as well as hoarding and he looked timid- 
ly around him to find one sympathizing face 
among them ; but all looked cold and dis- 
trustful. 


180 Through Trials to Triumph. 

“ Since you wont give us a ride you sha’n’t 
have one yourself/’ cried Bonner. “You’ve 
just got to march home with the rest. Move 
on.” 

And somehow Christie found himself walking 
in the center of a procession, a prisoner to all 
intents and purposes. 

It is trying to one’s temper to trudge at 
noonday, in the heat of summer, over hot and 
dusty roads with the dazzling sun blinding one’s 
eyes, and scorching one’s face, when you feel 
that you might be rolling comfortably and gayly 
along in a coach if only a miserly companion, 
“ who was up to his chin in money,” would 
spend a trifle of his abundance. This was the 
view which the boys took, and each felt par- 
ticularly aggrieved, and worked out his spleen 
on Christie as the most fitting subject. Coats 
were taken off and handed to him to carry ; 
bundles given into his charge, until he was so 
overburdened that he could hardly drag one 
foot after the other, and taunting remarks were 
made which cut like a knife into his tender 
heart. 

He was almost too hurt to be angry. He 
had lived in too calm and holy a frame of mind 


A Walk to W- 


181 


for the past few days to be easily moved to 
wrath. The remembrance of his recent misdo- 
ings had made him humble and watchful, yet now 
it seemed that this was more than he could bear, 
and he actually thought of stealing away from 
school and running home, where he would be 
safe from misconstruction and cold treatment. 
What was the use, he argued, of being placed 
in a situation of constant temptation and annoy- 
ance ? Was he not a thousand times better at 
home, where he never got angry, never neglected 
his devotions, or broke rules ? But a better 
spirit prevailed. “ It is indeed a cowardly 
soldier of the cross,” he said to himself, “ who 
deserts his post because of danger. How 
much more manly and noble it will be to fight 
the good fight wherever God sees fit to place 
me, trusting in his strength to give me the 
victory.” 

Every thing must come to an end some time, 
and so did that walk, though Christie thought 
two miles never seemed so long or dreary be- 
fore, and he never imagined the dull old Insti- 
tute could look so pleasant and attractive to 
him as it did when, faint and exhausted, he 

reached its friendly portal. Dr. Grimshaw was 
12 


1 82 Through Trials to Triumph. 

standing on the door-steps when the party en- 
tered the house. 

“ I hope you did not walk from the town in 
all this heat and dust,” he said as he noted 
the languid manner and heated condition of 
the boys. “ Why did you not wait for the noon 
coach ? ” 

“ Because none of us had money, sir, except- 
ing Randolph,” answered Bonner maliciously. 

Dr. Grimshaw looked hard at his old favorite 
and his brow darkened ominously. 

“ If he thinks I have done wrong he will 
say so,” thought Christie, “ and then I believe 
I will tell him what I am going to do with this 
troublesome money. Perhaps he can help me.” 

But, unfortunately for him, Dr. Grimshaw 
turned abruptly and went into his study. 

“ All for the best,” thought the noble little 
fellow, “ for the Bible says, ‘ When thou doest 
thy alms, let not thy left hand know what thy 
right hand doeth, that thy alms may be in 
secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall 
reward thee openly.’ ” 


An Anonymous Gift. 


183 


CHAPTER XV. 

An Anonymous Gift. 

S T was as clear and beautiful an afternoon 
as one would care to see when two boys 
left the Franklin grounds for a stroll in 
that glorious land known as “ out of bounds ! ” 
One of them was by no means in his usual 
good-temper, and as he walked along knocked 
from its stem many a clover-head which bloomed 
in his path by way of giving emphasis to his 
words. 

“ It’s what I call mean ! ” said Phil, for it was 
he. “ There is no one in the school that would 
answer our purpose in carrying home the game 
as well as Christie. The farmers about here 
don’t know him as well as they do you and 
me, Bonner, and wouldn’t suspect him as 
readily. It is a shame he must needs back out 
now.” 

“ What do you suppose is the reason he wont 
go with us ? ” asked Bonner. 


184 Through Trials to Triumph. 

“ He says it is because he don’t think it right,” 
answered Phil with a flout. 

“No great loss without some small gain. 
We sha’n’t have to share the profits with him 

now. I suppose he preferred going to W 

with Dabney, for I heard him asking permission 
of Dr. Grimshaw to do so. He might as well 
have confessed it, instead of making his consci- 
entious scruples an excuse for not accompany- 
ing us.” 

“ Christie don’t condescend to lie, which I 
wish I could say for all my friends,” said Phil, 
suddenly wheeling round and attacking Bonner ; 
for like many other people he didn’t care to hear 
ill-natured remarks concerning a friend whom 
he was not slow to scold about himself ; besides 
he was not a little annoyed by the circumstance 
which Bonner had just brought to his notice. 
He had known too long that he was hero-wor- 
shiped by Christie to hear unmoved that 
another was preferred before him, though had 
any one told him he was jealous of Dabney he 
would have been very much surprised ; yet it 
must be confessed he was suffering from that 
uncomfortable, sentiment ; and Bonner, under- 
standing matters exactly, meanly took advan- 


An Anonymous Gift . 185 

tage of them, as they walked on in search of the 
snares they had set, to rouse Phil’s ire toward 
his cousin. 

Christie, in the meanwhile, in happy uncon- 
sciousness of what was taking place, was en- 
joying the afternoon greatly, and feeling almost 
repaid for the suffering he endured a few 
days previous. Since Dabney’s illness, Dr. 
Grimshaw had insisted, as one of the conditions 
by which he kept his position in the school, that 
Dabney should take a short walk every day, no 
matter what the weather might be. Accord- 
ingly, at a certain hour every afternoon, he and 
Christie could have been seen wandering off to- 
gether on the quietest of all possible larks. At 
first Dabney had regarded these short diver- 
sions as necessary evils ; but soon he grew to 
love the little breaks of his busy life, and had 
made his friend supremely happy by telling 
him that he did not know how he had lived with- 
out them. It was, therefore, quite surprising to 
Christie, when, at the appointed hour on this 
lovely afternoon, he went to their usual trysting- 
place in the garden, that he did not find Dabney 
there waiting for him. 

“ He is probably engaged in a book, and has 


1 86 Through Trials to Triumph. 

forgotten all about our walk,” he thought. “ I 
must go and hunt him up, and start him off.” 

Christie found him in his own room a few 
minutes later, seated all twisted up at the 
window, his chin resting on the sill, his eyes 
fixed on vacancy ; so deep in thought that 
he was not aware of his visitor’s entrance or 
near approach. 

“ What kind of a problem are you solving 
this time ? ” asked Christie. 

“ The hardest one I ever hit upon,” said 
Dabney, starting up, and looking so wild and 
perplexed that Christie wondered what was 
the matter. 

“ What do you think, Christie ? what do you 
think ? I have received a letter from the crack 

tailor in W , stating that a gentleman has 

left an order at his establishment for a coat and 
vest for me, and requests me to call at once 
and be measured for the same. What do you 
suppose it means ? ” 

“ That some one has had the good sense to 
make you a present, Dabney,” said Christie, 
trying very hard to look as he ought under the 
circumstances. 

Dabney ran his long fingers through his hair 


An Anonymous Gift. 187 

until it stood all on end, but it did not help him 
to solve the mystery. 

" There must be some mistake. I don’t 
know any one who would be likely to make me 
such a present. Look, here’s the letter, Chris- 
tie ; let me see what you can make of it.” 

Christie took the sheet, glad of any excuse 
to hide his face a moment, for he never felt a 
stronger disposition to laugh in his life. 

“You don’t seem half so surprised as Dr. 
Grimshaw did,” said Dabney as Christie, after 
reading the letter, laid it down complacently, 
much pleased with Monsieur’s production. 

“ Then you told the Doctor ?” asked Christie. 

“ Yes ; I thought he might possibly know 
something about it. In fact, I look so shabby 
that I am .a disgrace to the Institution, and I 
thought perhaps, for the credit of the school, 
Dr. Grimshaw had ordered the coat and vest 
himself ; but he is as nonplussed over the letter 
as I am, and solemnly assures me he had noth- 
ing to do with it.” 

Christie’s eyes twinkled. He was but a poor 
actor at all times, and upon this occasion was 
not at all up to the mark. Dabney would cer- 
tainly have suspected him had he not been §0 


1 88 Through Trials to Triumph. 

thoroughly impressed with the idea that he was 
out of funds. 

“ What shall I do about it ? ” asked Dabney. 

“Why, take your present and be thankful,” 
answered Christie. 

“ That is what the Doctor says ; yet I am 
sure it is all a mistake. It can’t be intended 
for me. Why, there isn’t any one in the world, 
I tell you, who would think of making me a 
present, excepting Dr. Grimshaw or you, Chris- 
tie, and as it is neither of you, who can it be ? ” 

“ Perhaps some of your mother’s old friends, 
or your grandfather, repentant.” 

Dabney shook his head. 

“ Then,” said Christie, “ I give it up. Let 
us call it a gift dropped right down from the 
clouds. I am glad it fell into such fashionable 
hands, for your tailor makes most delectable 
fits. Don’t sit staring as if you had lost your 
senses. Here’s your cap, man. I move that 
we walk over to W — — , and see what Mon- 
sieur Fouchet has to say upon the matter. 
You can be measured at the same time, you 
know, and perhaps he can get the clothes done 
in time for you to wear them next Thursday, 
public-speaking day. It would be so jolly to 


An Anonymous Gift . 189 

have a tip-top coat to swell in upon that occa- 
sion. I will ask Dr. Grimshaw at once if we 
can go to W 

“ O don’t ! don’t ! ” cried Dabney, looking 
frightened at the bare idea. “I should feel 
like a cat in a strange garret to be decked in 
a dandified coat, such as the finical fellows 
wear. I’d rather stick to the old jacket. It 
seems mean to cast off an old friend for a 
new.” 

“ If you wear that jacket much longer it will 
break a blood-vessel. Just think, too, how 
much better you could declaim if you only 
had more breathing-room and Christie com- 
menced to spout Dabney’s pet speech with 
such freedom of gesticulation that Dabney 
laughed until the tears ran down his cheeks. 

“We shall go to W on a Tom Fool’s 

errand,” said Dabney, after the laughter had 
subsided, and they had got back to the per- 
plexing subject again. “ I should not be sur- 
prised if it were a sell on me, originated in the 
fertile brain of Jack Bonner.” 

Strange to say, Christie was more sanguine. 
He dragged Dabney from his chair, placed a 
comb in his hand, and peremptorily ordered 


190 Through Trials to Triumph. 

him to make use of it. Then he whisked out of 
the room to the study to obtain the necessary 
permission of Dr. Grimshaw to visit the neigh- 
boring town, and came running back as eager 
and excited as if there were a present in store 
for himself as well as his friend. 

What a gay, joyous walk it was to W 

this time ! How different from Christie’s last 
trip ! Every thing seemed bright and lovely 
to him now ! 

A refreshing rain had lately laid the dust ; 
the air was sweet and clear, and the sun just 
low enough to cast a pleasant glow over the fine 
country through which they passed. Christie 
was in fact ecstatically happy as he walked 
along, and sober, studious Dabney, forgetful of 
his usual staid demeanor, caught the infection, 
and became as merry and light-hearted as he. 
Many an eye followed the oddly-assorted pair 
as they sauntered up the main street of the 
little town. Every thing amused them, but 
especially their visit to the tailor. Christie 
was delighted to find how well Monsieur Fou- 
chet carried out the plan which he had con- 
trived for him upon a previous occasion, though 
he himself very nearly betrayed his secret by 





9253 The New Coat. 

Monsieur observed that “ Ze gentleman who prezented ze coat 
would be ravished to see it now.’’ — Page 193. 


193 


An Anonymous Gift. 

laughing ; but he made amends by slipping the 
money very dexterously into Monsieur’s hands, 
under Dabney’s very nose, without it being sus- 
pected by him, as they were leaving the shop 
after having selected a ready-made coat and 
vest, which fitted Dabney admirably. How 
nice and gentlemanly he looked in it, Christie 
thought, and how drolly Monsieur observed that 
“ Ze gentleman who prezented ze coat would be 
ravished to see it now.” 

Then came the happy walk home under the 
blue evening sky. It was too early for the 
moon to rise, but the dreamy, uncertain light of 
twilight seemed just suited to the mood of the 
two friends as arm in arm they trudged along. 
The goodness of the generous Unknown, and 
the pleasure both Dr. Grimshaw and Christie 
had betrayed upon hearing of his good fortune, 
had filled Dabney’s heart with gratitude and a 
strange contentment, and he opened his heart 
to his friend as he had never done before ; 
told him his future plans, his wild dreams, his 
hopes and fears, his discouragements, his 
besetting sins, and his desire to trust more in 
God’s love and assistance in the future ; until 
Christie, happy, interested, and loving, felt ready 


194 Through Trials to Triumph. 

to say, “ Truly, it is more blessed to give than to 
receive.” He never forgot the happiness of 
this walk through all the troubles it brought 
upon him. It was a bright remembrance 
which banished many an angry, selfish thought, 
and lighted many a dark hour. 


Bonner in Trouble . 


195 


CHAPTER XVI. 

Bonner in Trouble. 

t HAT something out of the common course 
of events had occurred during their ab- 
sence was very evident to the two friends 
when they reached home and proceeded to the 
dormitory, for through the halls and in the 
passage-ways, on the stairs and landings, groups 
of boys were scattered, eagerly discussing some 
subject, the interest of which seemed only to 
subside as they passed them. Christie won- 
dered what that subject might be. He looked 
around for Phil, but, seeing nothing of him, 
asked several whom he met where he was ; but 
though they laughed, or looked very wise, no 
one seemed inclined to answer his question, 
which occasioned him great uneasiness ; and 
that he might the more readily ascertain the 
truth, he for once wished to rid himself of Dab- 
ney, whose presence he thought had something 
to do with their reticence ; for, as teacher, he 


196 Through Trials to Triumph . 

had of late inspired the boys with a very whole- 
some awe of himself. They were beginning to 
understand that, however disagreeable the 
position might be to him, not even Dr. Grim- 
shaw was more strict or exacted more sublime 
order. 

It was not until the school had settled down 
for evening study that Christie missed Bonner. 
“ He must be with Phil,” he thought. He re- 
membered seeing them start off together for 

game before he went to W , and, as far as he 

could discover, they had not returned. What 
could they be about at this late hour? He grew 
more and more anxious about them every mo- 
ment, and found himself narrowly watching the 
door, until at length it was stealthily opened, 
and a frowsy, mud-bespattered head was pro- 
truded through the smallest possible crack which 
would admit it, and a pair of dark eyes cau- 
tiously peered about. 

“ All right, Phil, come in ! The coast is clear ! 
Old Grim has gone out ! ” cried a chorus of 
voices. 

Thus encouraged, Phil presented himself be- 
fore his school-fellows. He had been running, 
and his condition may be best expressed by the 


Bonner in Trouble. 


197 


word blown. His clothes were torn, his face 
and hands bruised, and as he dropped into the 
nearest chair, battered, red, and panting, his ap- 
pearance justified the laugh which was raised 
at his expense. 

“Where is Bonner? Stop laughing, boys, 
and let us hear the news/’ cried Johnson. 

“ Two of the villagers caught him, and have 
him safe in their clutches at the post-office,” 
answered Phil as soon as the noise had sub- 
sided. “They threaten to carry him to the jail 

at W unless he pays the fine, which is only 

five dollars, but, unfortunately, Bonner hasn’t 
any money ; no more have I. O if you could 
hear him beg off you’d die laughing ! • He takes 
the high and pathetic tone, and talks of his 
widowed mother. It was nuts to me as I stood 
looking at him through the back window of the 
office. I sent him a message by little Pat, (you 
know Pat, his father keeps my dog ;) it was to 
the effect that if he’d only stop whining I 
would get the money by hook or by crook, and 
be back with it in less than no time. Now 
there is no use in making a rumpus by telling 
Dr. Grimshaw ; he has forbidden our setting 
snares time and time again, and, of course, 


198 Through Trials to Triumph. 

would punish us for having done so. Suppose 
we make up the sum among ourselves, and so 
get him out of the scrape. Pass the cap, Johnson, 
and when you are in trouble we will do the like 
for you.” 

“ What is it all about ? ” asked Christie. 

“ Why, haven’t you heard ? ” said Phil. 
“ Bonner and I were hunting partridges this 
afternoon, with very good results, when sudden- 
ly Bonner dropped the game-bag, white as a 
ghost, and cried that two men were trying to 
catch us ; and on looking around I recognized 
one of them as Farmer Wells. Bonner was 
so frightened that he stood still and wrung his 
hands, instead of running for home as I did, 
and consequently got collared at once. I went 
through the thickest part of the woods, where the 
underbrush almost tore me in pieces, but suc- 
ceeded reaching here in safety at last. After 
waiting some time for Bonner to arrive I con- 
cluded that he didn’t get off, as I had hoped, and, 
to help him if possible, I went through the vil- 
lage on a voyage of discovery, and found him as 
I have said. But hurry, boys, and give me 
the money, for I must be off again.” 

“ It is rather late in the term to find much in 


Bonner in Trouble. 


199 


the money-bags,” said Lawton, searching his 
own, and finding therein only a receipt for paste, 
and an Indian coin which he kept as a lucky 
piece; “Bonner hasn’t much sense of honor, yet 
I would help him if I could.” 

Phil was observed to blush very deeply at this 
home-thrust, but said nothing. 

“ I don’t know that it is right to shield an un- 
principled boy from a just punishment, yet, for 
the sake of his widowed mother, I give my 
all ; ” and Whitehouse took a dollar from his 
pocket-book with a very merry twinkle in his 
eyes. 

“ ‘ ’Tis his last golden dollar, 

Left blooming alone ; 

All its brilliant companions 
Are squandered and gone,’ ” 

hummed Fish-ball. 

“ I have thirty-six cents, and here it is,” 
cried a very fine voice ; and little Maxwell 
squeezed through the crowd and dropped it 
into the hat. 

“ Blessings, blessings on the infant ! ” said 
Phil, patting the little fellow patronizingly on 
the head. “ Don’t that put you to the blush, 
Briggs ?” 

But Briggs, not having any money, was fain 
13 


200 Through Trials to Triumph. 

to content himself with assurances of his dis- 
position to give, as did many others. In fact, 
the sum didn’t accumulate very fast, and Phil 
was much disgusted, on counting over the con- 
tribution, to find that it would only make three 
dollars. He was just looking discontentedly 
about him when his eyes fell upon his cousin. 

“ Surely you will make up the difference, 
Christie,” said he, holding the hat toward 
him. 

Christie had been nervously anticipating this 
appeal, and, now that it was made, looked very 
conscious. He, however, answered stoutly 
enough that he hadn’t any money. 

An exclamation of horror arose from the 
crowd at this assertion. Boys who were not 
overscrupulous about telling the strict truth 
themselves were shocked, as well they might 
have been, at hearing what they thought so 
bold a lie. 

“ If you will just lend the money to-night I 
will see that you are paid myself,” said John- 
son, contemptuously ; “ and I would recom- 
mend you to trump up another excuse to cover 
your meanness, for since you were caught only 
last Saturday with thirteen dollars in your pos- 


Bonner in Trouble .. 


201 


session, after asserting that you hadn’t any 
money, it isn’t strange that we have lost faith 
in that excuse.” 

Christie hardly heeded these insulting words, 
for Phil was angrily scowling at him in a most 
unprecedented manner. It was plain to be 
seen that he sided with his accusers. 

Not that Phil really thought that his cousin 
had told a lie ; he had never caught him in a 
falsehood in his life, and at any other time he 
would have done him the justice to say so ; 
but his mind was so filled with the selfish, jeal- 
ous apprehensions which his conversation with 
Bonner had occasioned, that now he felt ready 
to believe that Christie could help him if he 
would ; and when he assured him that he had 
spoken the truth, he turned haughtily away 
from him, until Christie, in desperation, cried 
that he would let him know exactly what he 
had done with the money if he would promise 
not to tell the rest. 

“No mysteries, if you please. You must tell 
before all the boys or I wont hear,” answered 
Phil. 

Christie shook his head ; his feelings were 
too deeply hurt to speak, and he felt a des- 


202 Through Trials to Triumph. 

perate desire to rush off by himself and have a 
good cry. 

“ Don’t clap on the wat^r-works until I get 
out of the way,” said Phil. “ Come, White- 
house, wont you go into the study and tell Dr. 
Grimshaw the trouble Bonner is in ? If I ap- 
pear before him, looking like such a guy, he 
will suspect at once that I have been gaming 
myself. You know that you are a little bit of a 
favorite, and he would as soon expect old Dea- 
con French to cut up capers as you.” 

Whitehouse smiled, and said, with truth, that 
he would willingly go, only Dr. Grimshaw had 
noticed that both he and Bonner were absent 
at supper, and would naturally suppose they 
were together ; therefore it would be much 
better for him to go himself and honestly tell 
the whole story, and he was sure the Doctor 
would lend the money rather than Bonner 
should be taken to W . 

“ Suppose he punishes me ? ” said Phil, rue- 
fully. 

“Then take it patiently, for you know you 
deserve it,” answered Whitehouse. 

“ Well,” remarked Phil, with a dejected air, 
“I can’t get the money any other way, so I 


Bonner in Trouble . 


203 


shall have to go ; but as far as I am concerned, 

I would rather go to W than to that study. 

How perfectly awful Dr. Grimshaw will look 
when he sees me ! ” and Phil tried to rub some 
of the mud off his face with a handkerchief not 
much cleaner. 

“ Take mine,” said Christie. 

“ I want nothing to do with you or any thing 
that belongs to you/’ answered Phil. 

When people are angry they are very apt to 
be unreasonable and unjust ; and Phil, instead 
of blaming himself and Bonner that they were 
in difficulty, felt resentful toward Christie, who 
couldn’t fail to see the contemptuous glances 
of all the others. 

“ Well, I am off,” said Phil, determined to 
have his interview with the Doctor over as 
soon as possible. 

It was the first time in Christie’s life that his 
cousin had treated him with real unkindness, 
and now he felt it all the more that he was 
joining in with his enemies ; but Phil was in 
trouble, and he was so sorry for him that, fol- 
lowing him out of the room in the dimly-lighted 
hall, and catching him by the neck as he used 
to do when they were very little boys, he cried, 


204 Through Trials to Triumph. 

“ O, Phil, do hear me ! Just listen one moment ! 
I can’t have you feel so toward me ! I gave 
away all the money I had, every cent of it.” 

“ Let me alone,” said Phil ; “ I don’t want any 
of your sentiment and a sharp twinge of jeal- 
ousy made it easy for him to throw him off. 
He felt reproached as, turning away, he caught 
Christie’s expression, and had almost a mind to 
call him back ; but pride and anger were too 
strong for his better feelings to triumph. He 
knew very well now to whom he had given 
the money. “ Certainly he cares more for Dab- 
ney than for me,” he argued, “ or he would get 
back the money for me now that I am in such 
need but he was too proud to propose such 
a thing to his cousin. Thus was laid the cor- 
ner-stone of the wall of separation, which length- 
ened every day between two boys who really 
cared more for each other’s friendship than that 
of any of their schoolmates. 

It was not the first time during the term 
Phil had stood a culprit at the study door, and 
now he entered the room with many misgiv- 
ings, He thought he could almost detect a 
lurking smile upon Dr. Grimshaw’s face as he 
surveyed him from head to foot ; but his brow 


Bonner in Trouble. 


205 


darkened as he learned his errand, and he 
looked so stern that Phil lost all hope of ob- 
taining Bonner’s release. 

“Do you know, Phil,” said he, “what any 
community would be without law ; what prop- 
erty would be respected ; what life safe ; what 
anarchy and confusion would be the result ? ” 

Phil hung his head and said, “Yes, sir,” to 
the carpet. 

“ Every one understands that, and is willing 
to support a government to make laws ; but 
what is the use of making them unless they 
can be enforced ? And is it just, manly, or 
generous to expect obedience of others, if we 
ourselves are regardless of law ? ” 

Phil could but see the justice of Dr. Grim- 
shaw’s remarks, and felt very mean as the 
doctor continued : 

“You and Bonner have been a great while 
in the school, and have probably as much influ- 
ence as any boys in it ; yet I am sorry to find 
that influence always exerted in encouraging 
disorder and insubordination, putting the little 
boys up to mischief, and playing mean prac- 
tical jokes upon all new pupils. You have not 
learned obedience, without which it is impos- 


20 6 Through Trials to Triumph. 

sible to make a good citizen or a good man ; 
and should I let you have the money, what 
assurance have I that you will do better in 
future ? ” 

“ My penitence,” answered Phil. 

“Well, I will attend to Bonner, and you 
may go to your room. I shall judge of your 
repentance by the humility with which you 
both accept whatever punishment I inflict upon 
you.” 

Phil left the room thinking he would never 
be guilty of a mean act again. But his peni- 
tence was not of the right kind, and conse- 
quently was but short-lived. It had its root 
in wounded vanity rather than a heartfelt 
sorrow for breaking God’s commands. Phil 
admired Dr. Grimshaw ; he called him “ Old 
Grim,” but nevertheless he respected him. He 
seemed to him so gentle, brave, and strong, and 
he felt very sorry that he had not his good 
opinion. 

It was unpleasant to be thought unprincipled 
and disobedient, and, as I have said before, 
Phil did not like any thing unpleasant, and he 
thought that he would try and do better in fu- 
ture ; but it never occurred to him that divine 


Bonner in Trouble. 


20 7 


assistance was necessary, or that good resolu- 
tions should be sanctified and made strong by 
prayer ; so he yielded to the first wrong impulse ; 
and this happened even while Dr. Grimshaw’s 
words were ringing in his ear, and his determi- 
nation to do better was but freshly fashioned. 

On going up stairs Phil passed Dabney’s 
room, the door of which stood open, enabling 
him to see his cousin within, sitting on a low 
bench almost at Dabney’s feet. His book 
lay open on Dabney’s knee, and both were 
reading from it. 

“ I will pay Christie for his meanness to me ! ” 
thought Phil. 

Where were his good resolutions now ? They 
had vanished like vapor, and were as if they 
had not been. 

When Christie left Phil in the hall his heart 
was full of misery. He felt as if he could never 
face the boys then, so he looked about for some 
refuge where he could flee and be safe from 
the most cruel of all shafts — unkind words. 
Dabney’s room offered such an asylum ; there 
he was always welcome. He had fallen into 
the habit of going there to read and write, or 
while away a quiet hour in an idle dream. He 


208 Through Trials to Triumph. 

never disturbed Dabney, and often the two 
boys would sit hours together without exchang- 
ing a word, both happy, busy, and contented. 

To-night Christie went softly in, and, receiv- 
ing a smile of welcome, took a book and seated 
himself opposite Dabney at the table where he 
was industriously studying, and making up as 
fast as possible for the afternoon’s recreation. 
Something in Christie’s face, and even in his 
attitude, revealed the wretchedness of his heart ; 
and though his eyes were fixed upon the book 
he held in his hand, Dabney observed that it 
was upside down. 

It was not the first time, of late, that Dabney 
had noticed a cloud upon the brow of his young 
friend, and though it was not in his nature to 
ask for his confidence, he was sorry for him 
nevertheless, and had tried to think of a heal- 
ing balm. Work was to him the panacea for 
many wounds. He had himself beguiled many 
an hour, which would otherwise have been 
wretched, with some favorite study. If Chris- 
tie’s mind were only more fully occupied, he 
argued, he would not feel so homesick and 
lonely. 

“ Christie,” began Dabney with an abrupt- 


Bonner in Trouble. 


209 


ness which quite startled that wretched young 
person, “what is your favorite study?” It was 
very unusual for Dabney to speak during study 
hours, and now he actually had shut the big 
lexicon, and with both elbows leaning upon it 
was steadfastly gazing in Christie’s face. 

“ Rushing,” answered Christie playfully. 

“ Nonsense !” returned Dabney; “you don’t 
like to run about any better than I do. You 
would much prefer to waste your time in my 
room building air-castles.” 

“And why should I not amuse myself in 
that way as well as any other ? ” questioned 
Christie. 

“Because it is a most foolish and harmful 
habit. It makes the stern duties of life dis- 
tasteful to us ; and there is too much real work 
in the world to waste any portion of our short 
existence in idle dreams of what we might do 
if we were differently situated.” 

“ I know, Dabney, you believe in all work 
and no play ; but do you remember what effect 
that had on poor Jack?” 

“ It made him a dull boy, the rhyme tells us,” 
answered Dabney, “and it was even more dis- 
astrous to me, for by it I became a selfish boy. 


210 Through Trials to Triumph. 

We all require diversion, it is true, but it should 
be of a healthful and invigorating character, 
tending to strengthen instead of weaken us. 
When we have time for meditation, let the 
subject be God’s greatness and glory rather 
than our own, and I am sure we shall be the 
happier as well as the better for it.” 

Here Dabney paused, and Christie thought 
of the many hours in his life which he had 
thrown away as it were. At length he said, 
“ I think you are right, Dabney. I wish my 
thoughts were less frivolous and trifling.” 

“You don’t study enough, for one thing,” 
said Dabney bluntly. 

“ I learn my lessons,” answered Christie. 

“ Well enough to keep your place in your 
class, perhaps, because you are very quick, and 
the boys generally are careless ; but why don’t 
you try to thoroughly master some one study, 
natural history, for instance ; all boys like 
that.” 

Christie shook his head, to denote that he 
was an exception to most boys. 

“Well, there is Latin. Mr. Hunnewell tells 
me you don’t stand very well in the class. 
How is that ? ” 


Bonner in Trouble. 


21 i 


Christie blushed. “ I know,” said he, “ that 
I must make a very stupid appearance ; but, to 
tell you the truth, Dabney, all the disagreeable 
boys in school belong to that class, and they 
confuse me so I can’t make a respectable reci- 
tation, however well I may know my lesson. I 
wrote to my aunt not long ago complaining of 
this very difficulty, and this morning I received 
a letter from her, in which she says that I 
ought to overcome my nervousness, and as an 
incentive to exertion, as she calls it, she pro- 
poses to- make me a handsome present at the 
end of the term if, by my reports, I average the 
highest marks in the class.” 

“And you will make the effort, of course,” 
said Dabney. 

“ It would be of no use,” answered Christie. 

“ Come round here and translate this,” re- 
turned Dabney, pointing to a passage in the 
book which lay open on his lap. 

It was while he was complying with this re- 
quest that Phil passed, and both of the boys, 
looking up, caught his scornful expression. 

“ You must not come here any more,” said 
Dabney, shoving his chair off as far as possible. 


212 Through Trials to Triumph. 

“ Phil does not like it, and he is your oldest 
friend.” 

“ He does not care in the least,” answered 
Christie in all sincerity, trying to speak in a 
very calm and steady manner. “ Something 
has happened that he don’t understand, and he 
despises me. You are the only one in the 
school that doesn’t shrink from me. Pray don’t 
cast me off, too. I wont disturb you. Only 
let me come and sit with you the same as 
ever.” 

“ What is the trouble ? ” asked . Dabney, 
eagerly. 

Christie hesitated. He did not know how to 
tell him without revealing how nearly he was 
concerned in his trouble. 

“Never mind,” said Dabney, noticing his 
embarrassment ; “ don’t tell me if you don’t 
wish to ; but be sure of this, Christie, you can’t 
be more glad to come here than I am to have 
you. It was only because I feared that you 
were getting unpopular by doing so that I 
asked you to keep away. I would rather live 
the old life again than have harm come to you 
through me.” 

“ I wish I were home,” sighed Christie. 


Bonner in Trouble. 


213 


“ I thought you were trying to get over that 
sort of feeling, and taking a higher, broader 
view of school-life. God has placed your duty 
here. Do his work, then, cheerfully, undaunted 
by any trouble which the boys can bring upon 
you ; and when you do go home, it will be with 
the knowledge that this has been the richest 
and best year of your life, for in it something 
has been accomplished, something done to 
bring you nearer to Jesus than ever before.” 

“ I wish you had a home, too !” cried Christie. 

‘ I wish I had,” said Dabney sadly. 

“ I have thought of something ! ” exclaimed 
Christie in great excitement. “ Why can’t you 
go home with me in the vacation, and spend 
the holidays with us ? You know you said 
only the other day that you would be obliged 
to stay here. I know father and mother would 
be glad to see you.” 

“ You forget,” interrupted Dabney, smiling 
at his young friend’s enthusiasm, “ I haven’t 
the money to travel.” 

“O I can manage that ! Father will send 
money enough for both of us.” 

Dabney’s face flushed, and his pride took 
alarm in a moment. “ I would not take your 


214 Through Trials to Triumph. 

father’s money for the world. I ^ill stay here, 
and take my pleasure in knowing that you are 
happy.” 

But Christie had hit upon a delightful plan, 
and was not ready to give it up. He wanted 
Dabney to see his beautiful home, and enjoy it 
with him, instead of drudging alone through 
the holidays. “ Would you take the money if 
it were mine ? ” he questioned. 

“ If you were a man of property,” laughed 
Dabney. “ I am sure I like you well enough 
to be willing to place myself under obligations 
to you ; but as all the money you have now is 
what your father chooses to give you, I should 
not feel comfortable to take it. Let us put off 
the trip a few years.” 

“ I am not going to wait,” answered Christie, 
“for I have thought of a way out of our diffi- 
culty. Since you will take only the money that 
is mine, I will earn some.” 

“ Not by snaring ! ” cried Dabney in alarm. 

“ No ; I will earn the present my aunt prom- 
ises me if I obtain the highest marks in the 
class. I am sure she would just as soon give me 
money as any thing else, and I can buy a vis- 
itor with it. Please, Dabney, say that you 


Bonner in Trouble. 


215 

agree to that* for I have set my heart upon 
it.” 

Poor Dabney looked distressed. He left his 
chair and commenced to walk up and down the 
room, running his hands through his hair, as 
he always did when perplexed. At length he 
stopped before Christie, and said, 

“ I cannot go with you, for I never visit ; I 
am not used to people, and should frighten any 
well-regulated family with my eccentricities. I 
should be much happier here with my books 
and occasional letters from you ; but don’t let 
that make any difference about the Latin les- 
sons. Please earn the present for my sake, 
Christie.” 

“ I wouldn’t give a fig for it unless it were 
obtained for such an end. O that bell ! it al- 
ways rings just when we don’t want to hear it. 
Heigho, Dabney, how jolly ’twill be to get 
home, where retiring-bells are unknown ! But 
do tell me before I go that you will agree to 
my proposition. Now say yes, quick, or I shall 
be sure to get a bad mark for being late in the 
dormitory.” 

“ I will think of it, and tell you in the morn- 
ing,” said Dabney. 


14 


21 6 Through Trials to Triumph. 

Left to himself, he felt profoundly depressed. 
His pride, independence, and inclination all re- 
belled against compliance with his young friend’s 
wishes, and yet from his stand-point it seemed 
the kindest thing he could do for Christie. 
The necessary exertion to obtain the gift would 
take his thoughts from all unpleasant subjects 
and comfort as well as improve him. He was 
willing to spend a portion of his precious time 
every day encouraging and assisting him, for 
he readily foresaw that he would need it. But 
the vacation ! He wondered if it were his duty 
to give up that, too, and place himself under 
obligations to strangers. “ O that Christie would 
only interest himself in some study without the 
sacrifice ! ” he murmured ; and then he leaned 
his forehead on the table and groaned aloud as 
he thought of the selfishness with which he 
shrank from any act of self-denial. “ I will 
go!” he exclaimed, emphasizing his words by 
a tremendous thump on the table ; “ no matter 
how distasteful to my feelings or repugnant to 
my pride, with God’s help I will struggle 
through it.” 

In the mean time Christie, all unconscious 
of the trial he was imposing upon his friend, 


Bonner in Trouble. 217 

was himself suffering from a species of tyranny 
which only boys can inflict. 

He was running into the dormitory with a 
very fly-away sort of a look, occasioned by his 
haste to be there on time, when Johnson, who 
was sitting on the bed dragging off his boots, 
threw them at him, as if by accident. 

“Take care, Johnson, you will squash our 
generous friend ! ” cried Briggs. 

“ That would be a pity,” said Phil with a very 
sarcastic intonation. “ There would be only 
tall mourning in that case;” and fearing he had 
whittled his pun to so fine a point that it would 
not be noticed, he added, for the benefit of the 
obtuse, “for no one would care but your bean- 
pole of a Dabney.” 

“You forget that Bonner’s grief would be 
overwhelming. He isn’t the youngster to for- 
get an obligation.” 

“ Perhaps he will be more reasonable than 
the rest of you, and not blame me for not 
giving what I do not possess,” replied Christie. 

“Sanguine disposition, I call that,” laughed 
Johnson. 

“ I propose that you turn to the history of 
Ananias and Sapphira,” remarked one as Chris- 


2i 8 Through Trials to Triumph. 

tie took up his Bible ; for he sorely needed 
consolation from some source, and had hur- 
riedly undressed himself that he might have 
time to read from it before the lights were 
out. He knew the boys were making them- 
selves merry at his expense, yet he did not 
heed them as he read the blessed words, 
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy 
cometh in the morning.” 


Phil's Revenge. 


219 


CHAPTER XVII. 

Phil’s Revenge. 

ANY hours after the laughing voices 
were stilled in sleep, Phil lay awake 
nursing his spiteful, wicked feelings to- 
ward his cousin, and trying to think of some 
suitable mode of avenging his wrongs, as he 
called them. 

It was not until the following day, however, 
that he thought of the plan which he- afterward 
adopted. It came to him in Dabney’s room, 
for on being sent there by Dr. Grimshaw, he 
found him absent, and Christie the sole occu- 
pant of the apartment. He was sitting on the 
floor with his eyes concentrated on his book. 
Signs of great mental preoccupation were vis- 
ible ; his hair was all awry, his collar and neck- 
tie had been flung aside, while a daub of ink 
on his nose was more suggestive of hard work 
than of beauty. The Latin grammar, a huge 
lexicon, and other helps toward obtaining a 
clear understanding of the words of the im- 



220 Through Trials to Triumph. 

mortal Virgil, were not unobserved by Phil’s 
keen glance. On discovering who was the 
occupant of the room he turned to go, but 
stopped on the threshold, his curiosity whet- 
ted by Christie’s remarking that he had some 
good news to tell him. 

“ And what is it ? ” asked Phil rather fiercely. 

“ I have had a letter from Aunt Amelia, say- 
ing that she would be obliged to pass through 
* here on her way to the mountains, and she 
thought she might stay over one train for the 
sake of seeing her delightful nephews,” said 
Christie merrily. 

“ When did you hear ? ” inquired Phil, trying 
very hard not to betray his satisfaction at hear- 
ing the news. 

“Yesterday. I should have told you before, 
only that unfortunate affair last evening drove 
it out of my head when I saw you. Were you 
very severely punished, Phil ? ” 

“ I should rather think so,” growled he ; “I 
have lost every Saturday as a holiday for the 
rest of the term, and a full account of the affair 
is to be forwarded to my father.” 

“ I hope, now that you have had time to think 
it over, you do not blame me, for, of course, had 


221 


Phil's Revenge . 

I known you were going to want the money, I 
would have saved it for you ; but I gave it to 
Dabney, who has been very kind to me, how 
kind I can hardly tell you. Notwithstanding 
the many calls upon his time, he insists upon 
helping me with my Latin, for Aunt Amelia 
has promised me a present if my marks av- 
erage higher than any other boy’s in the class. 
When she comes, I shall tell her that I prefer 
money to any thing else she could give me, and 
with it I shall take Dabney home with me to 
pass the vacation. He is a real jolly fellow 
when one knows him well, and yesterday he 
really looked quite handsome — ” He was go- 
ing to add, “ in the new coat I gave him,” but 
he stopped short as he thought that perhaps it 
would be wiser not to mention that. 

It would have been better if he had stopped 
sooner, for Phil was hardly in the frame of mind 
to sympathize with his cousin’s plan, or rejoice 
in any pleasure which could accrue to Dabney. 

Several hours later, while Christie was in the 
school-room, a little boy came to his desk say- 
ing that Dr. Grimshaw was waiting to see him 
in the study. He looked up in surprise. It 
was not often that a scholar received such a 


222 Through Trials to Triumph. 

message during recitation hours, and as he 
wiped his pen and prepared to leave his seat, 
he hastily reviewed his conduct, and tried to 
think wherein it had been amiss. 

That something serious had occurred was 
evident to him the moment he saw Dr. Grim- 
shaw’s face. He was standing by the open 
window, reading a letter which Christie dimly 
felt was in some way connected with himself. 
“ I will attend to you directly,” said the Doctor, 
turning the sheet over and commencing to pe- 
ruse it again from the beginning. 

“ Was it bad news from home ? ” Christie’s 
heart almost stopped beating, and the minutes 
seemed liked hours before Dr. Grimshaw placed 
the letter in his hand, and told him to read it. 

It was addressed to Dr. Grimshaw, and pur- 
ported to be written by one of the farmers of 
the town. It contained a bitter complaint 
against a scholar, one Christie Randolph by 
name, who, it was alleged, had committed seri- 
ous depredations in trampling down the wheat, 
and setting snares on his premises. 

“ Then you are guilty,” said Dr. Grimshaw 
in a disappointed tone as Christie returned the 
sheet without comment. 


223 


Phil's Revenge. 

What would he have given to be able to say 
that no part of the accusation was true ! He 
could only assure him that he had not damaged 
any one’s wheat, or in fact set snares but once 
since he had been in the school. 

“ Did you not know that it is the same thing 
as stealing to appropriate to yourself what the 
State forbids you to interfere with ? I had 
hoped that this was a mistake. I had thought 
that some reflection of your father’s nobility of 
character would be traceable in his son.” 

A mist had gathered before Christie’s eyes, 
the floor seemed to rock under his feet, and he 
hardly heard what Dr. Grimshaw said ; but he 
carried away with him a vague impression that 
he was dismissed from the room in disgrace, 
and forbidden to leave the house for the rest of 
the week. 

He sat down on a bench in the hall and tried 
to calm his thoughts, and divest himself of the 
impression that it was his cousin who sent the 
letter. “ Surely,” he argued, “ Phil is manly and 
honest ; and even if he wished Dr. Grimshaw to 
know of my wrong-doing, he would not bring it 
about in such a cowardly, underhanded manner.” 

The writing certainly did not resemble Phil’s, 


224 Through Trials to Triumph . 

but Christie recognized the paper the moment 
he took it up. It was pink-tinted, and matched 
exactly some of his own, which he had found in 
the writing-desk his mother had filled for him 
previous to leaving home. He remembered, 
too, that only a few days before Phil had com- 
plained of having no letter-paper, and, upon so- 
licitation, he had given him a quire of the pink, 
because he had fancied the color of it. And 
what use had he made of it ? As the truth 
became clearer to him, he felt more sorry for 
Phil than for himself. He had done wrong, 
and felt that he deserved the punishment which 
had overtaken him, and with singleness of heart, 
he prayed then and there that it might work 
out good in him rather than generate evil feel- 
ings toward one from whom he had expected 
kinder things. 

“ If Phil/’ he thought, “ only possessed the 
Christian faith which he affects so to despise, it 
would have prevented him from committing 
such a meanness.” 

Christie was right. It would have caused 
him to enter joyously into Dabney’s happiness, 
and shed a brightness and a charm over all his 
actions. 


225 


Phil's Revenge. 

So Christie, though he knew who had been 
instrumental in bringing about his present dis- 
grace, said nothing about it to any one, and 
tried, in doing his duty, to forget every thing 
unpleasant, and soon he was surprised to find 
how comparatively little he cared for the im- 
pression he was making upon others. 

There was one circumstance, however, which 
gave him much pain. One bright sunny morn- 
ing the Franklinites were just turning grudg- 
ingly to their books, longing the while to be 
out in the fresh morning air, when a carriage 
drove up the gravel path, and the loud ringing 
of the hall bell announced a visitor. . 

Christie’s heart was almost in his mouth, for, 
expecting his aunt’s arrival, he thought it must 
be she ; nor was he disappointed this time, for 
soon Dr. Grimshaw returned to the school- 
room, and with a sympathetic smile, told both 
Phil and himself that as their aunt was there 
the day for them might be a holiday. Phil was 
out of the room with a bound, leaving Christie 
hovering about the Doctor’s desk. 

“ And why do you not go ? ” asked Dr. 
Grimshaw in surprise, seeing that Christie still 
stood before him. 


226 Through Trials to Triumph . 

“ I wanted to ask you if I need stay in the 
house to-day,” said Christie. 

Dr. Grimshaw was a kind man, with a very 
tender heart, and he hesitated now ; but he 
had already accorded him one favor, and he 
hardly felt that Christie’s conduct of late justi- 
fied his bestowing upon him another, yet he 
refused the desired permission with reluctance. 

So Christie met his aunt with a cloud upon 
his brow. It soon cleared away, however, in 
the sunshine of her presence. It seemed so 
delightful to see a dear home face once more 
that he forgot for a time every thing unpleas- 
ant, and passed a very happy day, even though 
he was obliged to stay in the house, while Phil 
took his aunt over the grounds, and pointed out 
to her the beauties of the P'ranklin garden. Of 
course she inquired why Christie did not join 
them in this delicious ramble, and Phil, who 
was her informant, I am bound to say did not 
soften Christie’s offense by the recital of it. 

The boys were very fond of this aunt, who 
had their interests very much at heart. She 
truly rejoiced in their happiness, and was 
pained when any thing went wrong with them. 
She now thought that Christie did not look 


227 


Phil's Revenge. 

well, and detected, with sorrow, the sad look 
which every now and then settled upon his 
face for a few moments, even in the midst of 
Phil’s boisterous gayety. Something was wrong 
with her favorite, and she longed for the sweet 
assurance that he was still following Jesus. It 
did not seem to her a good omen when she 
heard that he had been breaking rules, for 
Christ implants in the hearts of his disciples 
submission, patience, and love. 

On returning from the ramble in the garden 
there was no opportunity of talking with Chris- 
tie upon the subject, though he told her of his 
intention to try and earn the present she had 
offered him, and asked her if she would be will- 
ing to give him money, which she readily agreed 
to do, and urged him to work stoutly for it. “It 
is work and prayer, my boy,” she said, “ which 
will make us worthy the name of Christians.” 

Christie had one great pleasure during the 
day, and that was in introducing his aunt to 
Dabney, who had created among the school-boys 
a great sensation, not unmixed with mirth, by 
appearing for the first time in the new coat, or 
in their elegant phraseology by bursting upon 
them without warning “ in all the glaring splen- 


22 8 Through Trials to Triumph. 

dor of a long-tailed blue.” They annoyed him 
intensely by their incessant inquiries as to 
whether he meditated cultivating a moustache 
and side tabs, or was setting up as a man 
without those elegant auxiliaries — remarks 
which Christie took to heart as much as his 
friend, for he thought Dabney looked very nice, 
and quite justified his Aunt Amelia’s assertion 
that “ he was a very gentlemanly-looking 
fellow.” 

How Christie envied Phil the privilege of 
going to the depot with his aunt, and thus se- 
curing another half hour of her society ! 

“You must take me now to Dr. Grimshaw,” 
she said to Christie as Phil went to the dormi- 
tory to prepare himself for the drive ; “ I want to 
see him before I start.” So Christie left her at 
the study-door, but he hovered near it that he 
might see her when she came out, and thereby 
obtain a few more words before she left and he 
went back again to the old routine. 

Phil was to drive Dr. Grimshaw’s buggy, and 
as, cap in hand, he went into the study to tell 
his aunt that it was already at the door, he 
caught enough of the conversation to learn the 
drift of it. The Doctor was saying, “ He is 


229 


Phil's Revenge . 

entirely free from that stubborn, self-sufficient 
spirit which is so hard for a teacher to control, 
but have you never remarked in your nephew 
a tendency to hoard money ? ” 

“ I never observed any thing of the kind,” 
said his aunt ; “ indeed, we have always thought 
that Christie was particularly free from any such 
propensity.” 

“ I am very glad to hear you say so, for I 
have feared that the circumstances which I have 
mentioned denoted such a disposition ; but let 
us hope that it is not a deep-rooted inclination 
which will interfere with his happiness in 
future. It is my earnest purpose to understand 
my pupils, that I may assist them to overcome 
their faults while the character is pliant and 
capable of being molded at will.” 

There was no time for further conversation. 
Phil announced that he was ready to start, and 
after a few hurried words with Dr. Grimshaw, 
and an affectionate farewell in the hall to Chris- 
tie, his aunt got into the carriage, and Phil, 
with a grand flourish of the whip, took a seat 
by her side and drove gayly down the carriage- 
path into the street beyond. Christie watched 
the buggy as it disappeared from view behind 


230 Through Trials to Triumph. 

the shrubbery, and felt very grateful for this 
little break in the monotony of his dull life. 

Phil was in unusually fine spirits ; the brisk 
ride over the good hard road, and the fresh 
evening air, drawing its fragrance from a thou- 
sand different sources, exhilarated him, and he 
gayly narrated the details of his school-life for his 
aunt’s benefit, making himself, as the center of 
interest, quite a hero, unmindful that he was 
having most of the conversation to himself. 

“And now tell me something about your 
cousin,” said his aunt at length, rousing her- 
self from a reflection which did not seem to be 
of a very agreeable nature ; “ does he appear 
happy here ? Do the boys like him, and are 
you as devoted friends as ever ? ” 

Phil paused ; it seemed cowardly and unprin- 
cipled, even to him, to malign one behind his 
back, especially as Christie would have no op- 
portunity of righting himself in the estimation 
of his aunt. But the feeling of revenge which, 
untrammeled and unrestrained, had swayed him 
so long, and which he had never made the 
slightest effort to control, had now reached a 
giant growth and checked all kindly inclina- 
tions. “ He does not deserve any good at my 


231 


Phil's Revenge . 

hands,” he thought, and so he took care not to 
say any, but assumed a diffidence and a disinclina- 
tion to dwell upon the subject which he was far 
from feeling, and which his aunt interpreted as 
he intended. 

“ I am glad to see that you are unwilling to 
say any thing against your cousin, Phil. Chris- 
tie has endeared himself to us all by a thousand 
lovely traits of character. I know him to be 
warm-hearted and truthful, and if he is led 
astray by unfit companions, or by the hardships 
of a life to which he is unaccustomed, it is your 
place, as his relative and oldest friend here, to 
influence him aright.” 

“ I know it, Aunt Amelia,” answered Phil 
artfully, “ but Christie is so changed ! He 
hardly seems the same boy that he was when 
he first came here. He don’t care for me, now, 
and is completely under the influence of that 
tall fellow Dabney, who is an odd stick and fills 
him with all sorts of strange ideas, so that none 
of the boys can like him. He has grown so 
avaricious, too ; only the other day one of the 
fellows in our dormitory was fined for setting 
snares, and though Christie had himself been 

with him, he would not lend him the money 
15 


232 Through Trials to Triumph. 

when he knew the villagers might carry poor 
Bonner to jail in consequence. All the boys 
are disgusted with him, and I do not wonder 
at it.” 

This was the second time during the after- 
noon that his aunt had heard Christie accused 
of avarice by those whose opinion she respected. 
“ It is very strange,” said she. “ I never observed 
that he had any undue regard for money ; ” but 
even as she spoke it passed through her mind 
that Christie had asked to have the present she 
had offered him in money in preference to any 
thing else. As she knew that his father liber- 
ally supplied him with pocket-money, it did not 
look well in conjunction with these stories. “ It 
would be very wrong to encourage a miserly 
disposition,” she thought, , “ and it is my duty to 
write Christie as soon as I get to my journey’s 
end and revoke the promise I made to give him 
money.” So she parted from Phil at the depot, 
and continued her journey with a heavy heart. 


Disappointments. 


233 


CHAPTER XVIII. 
Disappointments. 

S HE ride home in the warm summer twi- 
light gave Phil no pleasure, for memory 
was distinctly recalling his aunt’s unhap- 
piness and his own appalling sin. He tried to 
shake off these unpleasant impressions, and to 
think only of the enjoyments of the day ; but 
God sometimes sends his Holy Spirit to cry in 
our hearts, “Turn ye! turn ye !” even as it was 
now pleading with Phil, who, not knowing the 
voice, was impatiently hushing its suggestions 
by saying to himself that “he had not done 
any thing so very dreadful, and that Christie 
was happier than he after all.” This conclu- 
sion was far from wrong, for although in dis- 
grace with his teachers, and all his school-fel- 
lows save one, he had drawn nigh to God, and 
He had fulfilled His promise, and drawn nigh 
unto him, and led him to a well-spring of 
strength and happiness. Now he was learning 


234 Through Trials to Triumph. 

the lesson of independence of man and a trust 
in a higher power, which he could never have 
gained in the smooth, sunny paths of his own 
home. 

It was some weeks before Christie heard 
from his aunt. They were long weeks of con- 
stant labor in trying to make up for the lessons 
which had been but superficially learned during 
the earlier part of the term. He was just be- 
ginning to reap the advantages of his exertions, 
and feel assured that he should gain the money, 
when he received the strange letter wherein his 
aunt recalled her promise, .stating that the de- 
tentions and fatigue of a long journey had alone 
deterred her from doing so sooner. It was 
very hard to give up the money after working 
so bravely, and making such fine progress. 

At first he' had despaired of overcoming his 
natural diffidence and timidity at reciting be- 
fore so many watchful faces, for Phil had told 
the boys, with a knowing nod, that so much de- 
votion to the ancients wasn’t for nothing, and 
incited many by his example to annoy his 
cousin in every possible manner : quizzing him 
when he commenced to recite, laughing at his 
blunders, coughing ominously when he did him- 


235 


Disappointments. 

self great credit, and distracting his attention 
by cracking nuts like a squirrel, or in mimick- 
ing Mr. Hunnewell under that gentleman’s very 
nose, until Christie hardly knew what he was 
about. After a time, however, he understood 
that it was done to annoy him, and no longer 
paid any attention to what was going on 
around him, for every lesson was recited first to 
Dabney, and his assurance that he really knew 
it gave him a confidence never felt before ; be- 
sides, his self-constituted teacher inspired him 
with his own love of the language, and he was 
amazed to find how much of beauty there was 
in it, and how much real interest he felt in the 
history of Dido, Xenius, Anchises, and their 
contemporaries. They were in his mind so 
much that they became to him realities, and it 
was a real pleasure to recite and talk about 
them to a sympathetic admirer like Mr. Hun- 
newell ; yet to master any language completely 
necessitates hours of weary drudgery, and many 
a pleasant afternoon, which he would have been 
glad to while away out-of-doors, he had spent 
laboring to implant the rules of Andrews and 
Stoddard in his mind. 

“ And had his exertions been for naught ? 


236 Through Trials to Triumph. 

Was there to be no end to his disappointments 
— to these commonplace trivialities — which, 
however insignificant they might appear to an- 
other, were sore trials to him ? ” 

Some such questions he asked Dabney as 
they took their walk together one afternoon. 
Christie had dreaded to tell him that his aunt 
had refused the money lest it might be as great 
a disappointment to him as it was to himself ; 
but he was comforted on that score when he 
perceived the real relief that was depicted upon 
his friend’s face on hearing the news. 

“ It would have been of great benefit to me to 
go home with you, I do not doubt, Christie, 
yet I dreaded it more than you can understand ; 
so don’t feel sorry on my account, but continue 
with your studies, and the consciousness of 
having persevered through every disappoint- 
ment will be no mean reward.” 

“ But I prayed that I might succeed for your 
sake, and God has promised to answer prayer.” 

“ Not always in the way you expect, for in 
that case the Almighty would be guided by 
you, and be following your counsels rather than 
having you follow his. As long as we are in 
the world, I believe, we must suffer disappoint- 


Disappointments. 23 7 

ments and trials ; but if we only use them right, 
they are guides to the higher life above.” 

“ There are some people who don’t seem to 
have any trials,” said Christie. 

“ They are few, indeed, who don’t have troub- 
les of some kind ; but God has provided for 
even those, for has he not said, ‘ Bear ye one 
another s burdens ? ’ Let us rest awhile,” con- 
tinued Dabney, sitting himself, Turk fashion, 
on the grass. 

“ You look quite like th z genius of the place,” 
said Christie. 

“ Like a fairy ? ” inquired Dabney. 

“ More like a big grasshopper,” replied Chris- 
tie, with exemplary frankness as he regarded 
his long arms and legs ; “ and here is a beetle 
of the same opinion, who is coming to make 
your acquaintance.” 

“ And very glad I am to see him,” said Dab- 
ney, catching it with a big leaf and inspecting 
it with interest. “ Now, Christie, if you had 
made natural history a specialty this half, as I 
recommended, you would know that this is a 
very rare species of beetle in this part of the 
country. I don’t see how the poor fellow came 
here, any way. He must be some enterprising 


238 Through Trials to Triumph. 

traveler abroad, * strange countries for to 
see.’ ” 

“ I wish you would give it to me if it is rare, 
for Phil would be delighted to add it to his col- 
lection and Christie forthwith wrapped it very 
tenderly and carefully in his pocket-handker- 
chief for safe keeping. 

“ Talk about people, and they are sure to ap- 
pear,” remarked Dabney, not looking specially 
pleased as Phil hove in sight, followed by his' 
usual retinue. “ Let us be off, Christie and 
he picked himself up and stared at the clouds 
in the vain endeavor to appear unconscious of 
the hostile party’s approach. 

“ Yes, presently,” returned Christie, pulling 
Phil’s coat when he passed him, as if they were 
on the best possible terms, and, holding up the 
handkerchief for his inspection, he remarked 
that it contained a very rare beetle, Dabney 
had told him, and he had saved it for his col- 
lection. 

Phil’s passion for beetles had become a 
standing joke between them. He had hunted, 
talked about, and slaughtered the unoffending 
insects hours together, and now he languished 
for this one ; perhaps, had no one been by, he 


Disappointments . 239 

would have compromised his dignity sufficient- 
ly to accept the tempting gift ; but the boys 
being present, especially Dabney, whose pres- 
ence particularly aggravated him, he turned on 
his heel with a laugh, and remarked that he 
was very generous with his bugs. 

“And that reminds me,” answered Christie, 
“ I promised to treat the boys of our dormitory 
when I had money again, and as father has 
sent me some this week, I hold to my engage- 
ment ; so Saturday, after the baker’s cart has 
been round, I will give you the best spread I 
can get up.” 

Lawton’s upper lip curled with scorn as he 
heard this invitation ; he thought that he un- 
derstood the motive which prompted it, and 
intended to defeat Christie’s object when he 
observed that he was sure the fellows would 
not tax his generosity so far. 

Bonner looked as if he did not feel so sure 
of that ; the invitation had a very pleasant 
sound to him, and consequently he telegraphed 
signs of disapproval to Lawton. 

“ Please excuse me from coming,” said Phil 
coldly. “And me,” “and me,” was echoed from 
all sides. Seeing that the cause was very un- 


240 Through Trials to Triumph. 

popular, Bonner cried, “ and me,” loudest of all, 
though he couldn’t repress a sigh which told 
how harassing it was to his feelings. 

“The spread will be ready any way, and if 
you change your minds,” said Christie, “ I shall 
be glad to see you ; ” and he started off with 
Dabney, looking very sober and troubled. 

“ I should not care if they didn’t come,” said 
Dabney consolingly ; “ if they give out you 
can invite some of the little fellows, who will 
be much more civil and grateful.” 


Christie s Feast . 


241 


CHAPTER XIX. 

Christie’s Feast. 

t S good as his word, Christie prepared his 
little feast for such of the invited guests 
as would accept of his hospitality, and 
made great exertions that it should be on as 
grand a scale as his small means would allow. 

Dabney had a large study-table in his room, 
and for that reason Christie had asked him for 
the loan of the apartment on this occasion, 
and had spent several hours in assisting his 
friend to adorn it. Very lovely they made it 
by festooning the walls with evergreens, and 
filling up all bare, ugly places with mottoes 
made of wild flowers, which beautified and 
transformed the room so that one would never 
recognize it as “ Dabney’s den.” 

Then Christie had a couple of chickens 
cooked by old Aunt Hetty, a village woman of 
great celebrity among the school-boys on ac- 
count of her culinary skill. Biscuits, fresh but- 
ter, and pickles were also furnished by this 


242 Through Trials to Triumph. 

excellent caterer, besides a huge plum-cake, 
beautifully ornamented with frosting, which, as 
Christie remarked when he took it from the 
basket, would give great style to the board. It 
was also admired by Dabney, who, though he 
could not be present at the entertainment, took 
as much pride in the arrangements as Christie. 

All things being ready on the eventful day, 
excepting what the baker was to bring, Christie 
watched for the big red cart with some anxiety, 
and was greatly relieved to hear the jingling of 
bells which heralded its approach. It drew up 
before the play-ground, and the boys crowded 
around it like flies about a honey-pot. 

“Here’s a customer!” cried Christie, squeez- 
ing through the throng ; “ two dozen hot apple 
turn-overs, and two dozen cranberry tarts.” 

“'Them’s ’em, my hearty!” cried the fat little 
baker, beaming with delight at such an unex- 
pected sale of his wares. “ Have some dough- 
nuts, too ? They are uncommon good, I know, 
for my daughter Sal made ’em.” 

“Yes, and some jumbles and jelly-cake!” 
cried Christie, growing lavish at the sight of 
those dainties. 

“ What is going on ? ” asked Whitehouse of 


Christie's Feast. 


243 


Lawton as from their post of observation they 
saw Christie filling up a basket with his pur- 
chases. 

“Why, did you not know Randolph treats 
our dormitory to-day ? We are all invited, and 
it’s to be a regular spread-eagle affair. Silly 
boy! I suppose he is trying to buy back his 
popularity ; but, fortunately, meanness wont go 
down in this institution,” said Lawton with 
pride. 

“I never knew a fellow lose caste as that one 
has,” returned Whitehouse. “ When he first 
came here every one seemed disposed to like 
him.” 

“And now, teachers as well as scholars are 
disgusted,” said Lawton. “You ought to have 
seen Grim when he heard that he refused to lend 
Bonner that money. We were together sitting 
at the upper end of the school-room, when two 
of the boys were talking about it just under 
the window. Of course, we had the benefit of 
the conversation. Dr. Grimshaw looked very 
sober, and asked me if it were indeed so ; and 
though I did not wish to admit it to a teacher, 
I was forced to do so.” 

“ Perhaps if we knew his motive for keeping 


244 Through Trials to Triumph. 

back the money we might not blame him,” 
returned Whitehouse, the charitable. 

“I should think so, too, if it were not for 
Phil, who is very fond of his cousin, and would 
not treat him as he does if he were not con- 
vinced that he merited it.” 

Happily unconscious of these remarks, Chris- 
tie, with his load of goodies, trudged back to 
Dabney’s room, followed by the wistful gaze 
of many a hungry boy. He found Dabney cut- 
ting up lemons with a jack-knife, and, in lieu 
of something better, making the lemonade in 
the pitcher from the wash-stand. “ It is clean,” 
said Dabney apologetically. 

“All right,” returned Christie, who wasn’t 
more fastidious than most boys. “ But what 
shall we do for tumblers ? One can eat without 
a plate, but it is necessary to have some kind 
of a dish to drink from.” 

“ Pitcher,” suggested Dabney. 

Christie shook his head dismally. 

“ I have it,” said Dabney at length, going to 
the closet and producing therefrom an old shav- 
ing-cup which some former occupant of the 
room had left there. 

“Just the thing!” returned Christie joyfully, 


Chris tie' s Feast. 


245 


“and here we are ready just in time. I hope 
they will come before the pastry cools,” he con- 
tinued, swelling with hospitable pride as he 
glanced at the smoking-hot turn-overs. 

“I had better decamp, then,” said Dabney, 
picking up a book and taking a parting survey 
of the room as he left it. 

There was a good deal of walking up and 
down the hall, but as no one seemed to be 
coming in, Christie sat down to wait for his 
party to arrive, and tried to feel that it was not 
a trying ordeal which he was about to undergo. 
Presently he heard whispering voices just out- 
side the door, but instead of the expected 
knock, an eye was visible at the key-hole. 
Christie, springing to the door, opened it only 
in time to see a crowd of boys tumbling 
around the corner. It was very annoying to 
be watched, so he put the key in the lock on 
the inside, and, taking up a book, was deter- 
mined to interest himself in it until some one 
of his guests arrived ; but that was no easy 
thing to do, for it was soon evident by the loud 
whispering outside that the boys were at the 
door again ; then came a sharp knock and the 
sound of retreating footsteps. 


246 Through Trials to Triumph. 

“ I wont run after them',” he thought, trying 
to argue himself into the idea that it would be 
no disappointment to him if they did not come 
in, and in proof thereof he hummed a merry 
song ; but somehow it did not go off very 
briskly, and at the end of a couple of hours of 
waiting he confessed to himself that he was not 
only disappointed but mortified at the result of 
his invitations. 

At this juncture Dabney, who had spent the 
time very profitably in the school-room, ap- 
peared at the door. He looked in astonish- 
ment first at Christie, and then at the table, 
which still shone forth in all its pristine 
glory. 

“ No one has been here,” said Christie in a 
doleful tone. 

Dabney threw back his head, opened his wide 
mouth to a fearful extent, and gave vent to a 
hearty roar. 

“ It is very unkind of you to laugh ! ” cried 
Christie, looking rather injured. 

“ So it is,” returned Dabney, “ but I couldn’t 
help it,” and he made a great effort to draw 
down his face into a sympathetic expression. 
“ What’s the use,” he continued, “ of looking so 


Christie's Feast. 


247 


bereaved ? Wait until you have some real afflic- 
tion before you put on mourning. Why not re- 
gard the affair as a joke, and go forthwith and 
invite some one that will come ? There are 
the little boys playing tag on the front lawn, 
they wont need a second bidding, I assure 
you.” 

“ I am afraid I have made myself a laughing- 
stock,” sighed Christie. 

“ I would not be afraid of any thing but sin,” 
answered Dabney seriously. “You have done 
nothing wrong ; indeed, as you promised to 
treat the fellows, I don’t see how you could have 
done otherwise, so cheer up.” 

“ You are a real comfort,” returned Christie, 
brightening up. “ Let us this time invite the 
smallest, most neglected youngsters in school.” 

The fame of Christie’s repast had traveled be- 
fore him, and great was the astonishment and 
delight of the little boys that it was destined 
for them. The profound O’s, and other exclama- 
tions of satisfaction, which fell from their lips 
on entering the room, though not of a reporta- 
ble character, sounded very pleasant to Christie, 
and quite repaid him for all his labor. He 

and Dabney busied themselves at once in help- 
16 


248 Through Trials to Triumph. 

ing their uproarious guests — the latter admon- 
ishing the little fellows not to kill themselves 
with eating too much cake, and tucking hand- 
kerchiefs under their chins, in lieu of napkins, 
in such a motherly way that Christie stopped 
hacking up the chicken to laugh. In fact, every 
one was in tip-top spirits, and all would have 
passed off very merrily had not one of the boys 
commenced to cry. 

“ What’s the matter ? ” asked Dabney in as- 
tonishment. 

“ Some one is throwing water on me from 
behind,” replied the child, wiping his neck with 
his sleeve. 

“ Nonsense ! that is imagination,” Dabney was 
saying, when a stream of hot water was squirted 
from the key-hole into his face. 

“ It is somebody outside ! ” said one. 

“ I saw him shut the door ! ” cried another. 

“ Saw whom ? ” asked Dabney, livid with rage. 

“ Bonner,” replied the child. 

“ O don’t go ! ” said Christie, seeing that 
Dabney was about to leave the room. “You 
will only get into trouble.” 

But Dabney was off without a word. 

“ O, boys, have you not almost finished ?” 


Christie's Feast . 


249 


This inhospitable query was answered by a 
clamorous demand for more tart, so that Chris- 
tie was forced to remain and perform the duties 
of host, instead of running after his friend, as 
he felt much inclined to do. 

It seemed to him that he never should see 
the last of the “ small fry,” who stayed until they 
had swept the board, taking off in their pockets 
what could not be otherwise disposed of. 

Dabney appeared just as they left. He came 
into the room rubbing some ink stains from his 
coat — the precious coat which had been the 
cause of so much trouble to Christie. 

“ How did it happen ? ” asked Christie in 
consternation. 

“ It is some of the work of Bonner and of Phil,” 
answered Dabney. “ I caught them with a huge 
ink bottle, the contents of which they did not 
hesitate to declare they intended to squirt 
into this room, and to return the delicate atten- 
tion I gave them each a thrashing which they 
are not likely to forget.” 

“ And then they threw the ink upon you ? ” 
inquired Christie. 

“ Yes,” returned Dabney, ruefully eyeing the 
big, ugly stains. 


250 Through Trials to Triumph. 

Christie said nothing, but slowly commenced 
to clear the table and put things into their 
respective places. 

“ I hope you don't mind because I struck 
Phil,” observed Dabney. “ I should have spared 
him, as he is your cousin, only he must needs 
interfere when I was tussling with Bonner. He 
has not been cultivating his biceps all this 
time for nothing, and his clutch didn’t feel 
pleasant ; ” and Dabney gave a short laugh at 
the recollection. 

Christie looked at the coat, and confessed 
that Phil abundantly deserved a thrashing ; 
“ Only I wish you had not given it to him,” he 
added. “ I don’t doubt that I should have 
done exactly as you did, but it isn’t Christ-like 
to fight, Dabney.” 

“ But what would you have had me do ? 
Surely it is not my duty tamely to submit to 
every thing.” 

“ You may call it tame, or whatever you like, 
but we ought to bear and forbear, and nothing in 
Christ’s life is more conspicuous, and at greater 
variance with the times and the customs of 
the country in which he lived, than his meek- 
ness and humility. He also says upon this 


Christie's Feast . 


251 


very subject, ‘ Whosoever shall smite thee on 
thy right cheek, turn to him the other also/ 
There can be no mistake about that. It is as 
plain as words can make it ; and though it may 
be very hard to do, I have heard father say that 
it is part of the discipline which is to fit us for 
heaven.” 

“ I suppose he is right,” answered Dabney, 
“ and it is indeed hard. I wonder if I can ever 
feel as a true Christian should, and be able to 
say with the Psalmist, ‘ I delight to do thy will, 
O my God ; yea, thy law is within my heart ? ’ ” 

“ The more we do right the better we shall 
love it, I suppose,” said Christie. 

Dabney took his little Bible from the shelf, 
and, turning to Paul’s instructions to the Gala- 
tians, read, ‘ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, 
joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, 
faith, meekness, temperance.’ That don’t sound 
much like fighting, does it, Christie ? Well, I 
am sorry I did it, but I can’t help it now.” 

“ You might say so to the boys,” suggested 
Christie. 

The rich blood mounted to Dabney’s face, 
and even dyed his neck and hands. “ You 
forget that I am teacher,” he returned. 


252 Through Trials to Triumph. 

“ The boys don’t regard you as such out of 
recitation hours,” said Christie. 

Dabney did not reply at once, but sat idly 
watching his friend as he finished putting the 
furniture in place about the room. Finally he 
broke out with the following question, “What 
would be the use in it ? ” 

Christie knew at once what he meant, and 
answered, “ The use would be that we are com- 
manded to do so. Then, again, if we make it a 
practice always to confess it when we do wrong, 
it is such a disagreeable penalty that it may 
serve as a preventive ; at least it has proved 
so to me. The fact is, I am so prone to do 
evil that I have to try all sorts of contrivances 
to keep me in the right.” 

“ But I don’t want to be such a Christian as 
that,” said Dabney discontentedly. “ I want 
to do right because it is right, and because I 
delight in goodness.” 

“ In other words,” answered Christie, “ you 
want to do right without an effort. I don’t be- 
lieve you ever can, Dabney. You know how 
much the apostles wrote about warring with 
evil. I am sure they had to try to do right just 
as hard as we and Christie looked into his 


Christie's Feast . 


253 

friend’s face so earnestly and encouragingly 
that Dabney exclaimed with enthusiasm, 

“ I am glad, Christie, you have decided to be 
a minister, for I believe you will make a good 
one. At all events, you have preached it into 
me that I ought to confess to those boys that I 
was wrong, and I am going to do so at once, 
while my courage is high and my heart soft- 
ened by your kindness and affection.” 


254 


Through Trials to Triumph. 


CHAPTER XX. 

A Revelation. 

* T was no pleasant duty which Dabney had 
now undertaken to perform, and as he went 
from room to room searching for Bonner 
and Phil he almost wished that he might not 
find them, and thus feel justified in putting off 
the disagreeable confession a few hours at 
least. 

It was not so much that Dabney objected to 
own that he had done wrong as that he feared 
his motive in doing so would be misconstrued. 
What more likely than that the boys should 
think he was trying to conciliate them through 
fear ? 

But these thoughts did not deter him from 
entering one of the recitation-rooms on hearing 
Phil’s high-pitched voice within as he was pass- 
ing the door. 

Evidences of strife were still discernible upon 
his person. Stripped to his shirt-sleeves, he 


A Revelation. 


255 


was giving a very animated account of his agil- 
ity to the crowd of listeners that surrounded 
him, and scouting with scorn the hints that he 
had been worsted in his late encounter with 
Dabney. “ If I could only have another round 
I would knock him flat,” he was saying, when, 
looking up, he perceived Dabney leaning against 
the wall, watching him with an expression upon 
his countenance which he failed to understand. 

A loud laugh arose from the boys at the crit- 
ical position of affairs, and no one was surprised 
when Dabney asked for Bonner. “ I have 
something to say to you both,” he added. 

After a whispered consultation with Johnson, 
Phil agreed to go with him and find Bonner, 
and the two left the room together. 

“ I want to say to him as well as to you that 
I am sorry for having fought with you. It is 
dreadful to think what might have been the 
consequences, for I was very angry, and did my 
best to hurt you. Will you forgive me, and 
shake hands ? ” and Dabney held out his own 
hand and looked steadfastly into Phil’s face. 

If he could have read his heart he would 
have seen that this manly, honest acknowledg- 
ment smote Phil with shame. He looked at 


256 Through Trials to Triumph. 

the poor struggling fellow at his side, who was 
so uncomplainingly combating the ills which 
poverty had brought upon him, and he felt con- 
science-stricken that from his vantage-ground 
he had stooped to cast a stone at him ; but 
Phil had not failed to see that Dabney had 
daily gathered hope and strength from Chris- 
tie’s friendship. Indeed, Dabney had taken 
Christie entirely from Phil, and the thought 
brought back the old current of selfish feeling 
and the old enmity again. 

“I have nothing to forgive,” he answered 
sullenly, withholding his hand. “ If you are 
disturbed because you think you got the best 
of it we will try again, and perhaps you may 
have cause to feel uncomfortable on another 
score.” 

“ I don’t want to fight,” answered Dabney 
sorrowfully. “ I feel humiliated that my pas- 
sions got the better of me before. But O, 
Spencer, it was very hard to feel that my few 
possessions were to be ruined for your amuse- 
ment. I ' should have remembered that you 
never had been poor, and did not realize what 
it is to be utterly without the means of replac- 
ing what is destroyed.” 


A Revelation. 


257 


“You might apply to Christie again,” re- 
marked Phil in an insinuating tone as they 
descended the stairs together. 

“ What do you mean ? ” returned Dabney, 
stepping in front of him, and blockading the 
way by placing one arm on the baluster and 
the other upon the opposite wall. 

“ You seem very much shocked,” laughed 
Phil. “ It seems like speaking out in meeting, 
doesn’t it ? Well, it is pleasanter to accept 
money than to talk about it, I don’t doubt ! ” 

“ I never accepted a penny from Christie in 
my life, if that is what you are driving at,” said 
Dabney decidedly. 

“ I have only Christie’s word for it,” answered 
Phil. “ I hope your little friend hasn’t told a 
naughty story.” 

“ Did Christie say that he had given me 
money ? ” asked Dabney incredulously. 

“ He certainly gave me to understand that 
you took thirteen dollars from him at one time. 
It was the excuse he made me for not lending 
me some money when I asked for the loan of it 
to pay Bonner’s fine. You see I know all about 
it, so there need be no secrets between us.” 

“ You are mistaken ! ” cried Dabney quickly. 


258 Through Trials to Triumph. 

“ I don’t believe Christie has had that amount 
since I have known him ; at all events, I am 
sure he has been very much pinched for spend- 
ing-money all the term.” 

Phil laughed a provoking, satirical little laugh 
as he replied, “ The boys saw it in his pocket- 
book only a short time previous to my calling 
upon him for it ; and it was because they knew 
that he had the money when he denied it that 
he has become so unpopular among them.” 

“ I don’t see how they could blame him if it 
was understood that he gave the money to me,” 
said Dabney, distrusting the whole story. 

“ O the fellows knew nothing of that ! ” re- 
turned Phil. 

The two regarded each other a few moments 
in a puzzled way, each believing that the other 
was trying to deceive. Yet Phil looked as if he 
were speaking the truth, and his words rang in 
Dabney’s ear hours after he had apologized to 
Bonner and left both of them. 

Just before the retiring-bell rang that night, 
Christie hurried into Dabney’s room with a 
small bottle in his hand. “ It contains an ex- 
tract warranted to take out ink spots,” he 
explained as Dabney looked inquiringly at it. 


A Revelation. 


259 


I saw it in the dormitory, and borrowed it on 
your account ; so let me use it forthwith, that 
I may carry it back with me when I go.” 

Dabney took off the coat as he was request- 
ed, and Christie, after wetting the small sponge 
which he took from his pocket with the liquid, 
applied it to the damaged parts, while Dab- 
ney’s thoughts went back to that bright, happy 
day when, unexpectedly, he had received such a 
welcome addition to his slender wardrobe. He 

remembered that afternoon’s walk to W . 

The early roses that were then in blossom, and 
which brightened the way, were indeed wither- 
ed and gone, and late autumnal flowers bloomed 
in their stead, but the happiness and comfort 
which then sprang up in his heart still lived 
and gladdened his life. He thought, too, of 
Christie’s simple, untiring devotion, and the 
trouble and annoyances which came to him 
about that time, and at last he linked them to- 
gether. Could it be that Christie had spent 
the money which Phil declared that he pos- 
sessed at the time for the coat and vest, and, 
out of consideration for his feelings, suffered a 
thousand persecutions from his comrades rather 
than acknowledge the fact ? Such unselfishness 


260 Through Trials to Triumph. 

seemed incredible to him ; and yet, as he has- 
tily reviewed every circumstance connected with 
the anonymous gift, he felt convinced that it 
was even so ; and catching Christie by the 
shoulders, at the imminent risk of upsetting the 
bottle which he held in his hand, he looked 
earnestly into his face, and exclaimed, 

“ You did it ! ” 

“ Did what ? ” asked Christie in surprise. 

“You gave me the coat and vest, and I am 
ashamed and disgusted with my stupidity in 
not guessing it before. I can never forgive 
myself, for by it you have suffered so much ! 
Do you suppose I should have permitted you 
to bear disgrace to save my pride ? ” and the 
tears which Dabney would have felt no shame 
to let fall stood in his eyes. 

Christie flushed with both pain and pleasure. 
He was sorry that Dabney had made such a 
discovery, and yet it was a real pleasure to 
know that he appreciated all he had borne for 
his sake ; but he now made light of the trouble 
it had been to him, and declared, with truth, 
that he had derived a great deal more happi- 
ness than pain from the affair. 

“ But you shall suffer no longer on my ac- 


A Revelation. 


261 

count,” replied Dabney ; “ I should rather the 
boys would know how the money was spent ” 

Christie would not agree to that, and was 
warmly arguing the point when the bell rang 
which called him away. 

Dabney sat at the open window of his room, 
hours after Christie left him, indulging in soli- 
tude the thoughts to which this conversation 
had given rise. He remembered when the 
term had opened what a comfortless blank re- 
ality life had seemed to him, and now how 
differently he felt ; and fervently he hoped that 
never again might he lose faith and trust in the 
Being who watched over and guided his des- 
tiny, and who had raised up a friend for him 
who by the nobility and generosity of his na- 
ture might elevate his own. Nor did he forget 
to pray for strength to emulate his example 
of unselfishness. 


262 


Through Trials to Triumph. 


CHAPTER XXI. 


Triumph. 

S T was so dark in the school-room that the 
scholars could hardly see to study, and 
many a bright eye was turned away from 
the page before it to watch the rain as it fell 
in torrents against the window-panes. All ter- 
restrial objects seemed to be swamped in a 
general deluge. Certainly there would be no 
play out-of-doors for the present. As the clock 
struck twelve Dr. Grimshaw rang the bell — the 
signal that the morning session was over — and 
taking up his hat, he left the room. 

The boys came flocking in from the surround- 
ing recitation-rooms to put up their books, and 
a merry clatter of voices and the slamming of 
desk covers filled the room with a tumultuous 
uproar, when, to every one’s amazement, the 
bell was touched again, and Dabney, pale and 
determined, begged the attention of the school 
for a few moments. 

There was something of dignity and firmness 


Triumph. 263 

in his face and very attitude, as he stood at 
the teacher’s desk, that claimed the attention 
which he had just solicited, and quiet was in- 
stantly restored. 

“ I wont keep you long,” he began, “ but I 
don’t know when I shall have a better oppor- 
tunity of clearing up a little mystery which has 
made one among us very unhappy during the 
long term.” 

The boys looked at one another inquiringly, 
and a few jokes were cracked on the score of 
Dabney’s being about to make a speech ; but 
these were soon silenced by the others, whose 
curiosity was awakened by the unusual spec- 
tacle. 

It was no easy matter for one of Dabney’s 
reticent habits to lay bare his private affairs 
before his careless companions, and his voice 
wavered slightly as he proceeded : 

“ At the opening of the term a more unhappy 
person could hardly be found than I. Without 
money or friends, or a faith in the justice and 
love of God, I felt there was nothing to hope 
for, nothing to care for but my own selfish 
schemes. Who shall say that I should not have 

hardened into a bad, unscrupulous man had 
17 


264 Through Trials to Triumph. 

not one noble fellow, — God bless him ! — by his 
kindness and sympathy turned my thoughts 
from myself? 

“He never laughed at my oddities, or seemed 
to notice my poverty ; and when, on the day that 
Bonner was fined, I received an anonymous 
present of the coat and vest I now wear, I 
never dreamed that it was his gift, or that the 
ban which he seemed to be under in the school 
was in any way connected with me.” 

Here Dabney paused. Not a sound was to 
be heard in the school-room save the dull pat- 
tering of the rain as it struck upon the roof, 
but every eye was fixed on Dabney, and every 
one’s attention chained. 

“Boys,” continued he, his color deepening 
and his countenance brightening, “ all the 
money which you supposed Christie Randolph 
had at that time was in the possession of the 

tailor at W , and no one in the school, with 

the exception of Phil Spencer, was ever told by 
the patient fellow that the money was given 
to me. And why? Because the generosity 
which prompted the gift scorned to shift its 
wound upon another. Christie Randolph would 
rather bear misconstruction, rudeness, and dis- 


Triumph. 265 

grace himself than hurt the sensitive pride of a 
friend.” 

How Dabney would have concluded his 
speech was never known, for his voice was 
drowned in a sea of applause. 

“Where is he? What has become of the 
youngster ? ” was echoed from one to the oth- 
er, for Christie, standing near the door of the 
school-room as Dabney commenced his speech, 
soon discovered the drift of it, and, perceiving 
that his praises were to be sung, slipped quietly 
from the room. 

“ Let us give three cheers for him ! ” cried 
one ; and immediately the air was rent with 
boyish voices. 

“ And three for Dabney ! ” cried Whitehouse, 
stepping forward and cordially shaking his 
hand. His example was followed by many 
others, all eager to testify their admiration of 
his frankness, and their readiness to be friends 
with him, now they knew that he really cared 
for their friendship. 

“ Dabney is a splendid fellow,” said Lawton, 
speaking afterward of the scene to his compan- 
ions, “ and I wish I had understood him better 
before. Who would suppose that Christie Ran- 


266 Through Trials to Triumph. 

dolph would have had so much more discrimi- 
nation than the rest of us ? ” 

“ I suspect that he had no more discrimina- 
nation, but a greater desire to be of use,” replied 
Whitehouse. “ If we only try to help those 
about us, it is surprising how many pleasant 
unsuspected traits come to light, which were 
hidden from our view at first by faults and 
oddities.” 

“ I wouldn’t have believed that Phil Spencer 
would have been so mean,” said Fish-ball ; 
“when he knew his cousin to be unjustly 
blamed, he could at least have espoused his 
cause, and satisfied us by doing so that he was 
in the right.” 

“ After all,” said Johnson, “ how much more 
one can respect and admire a fellow with prin- 
ciple, for without it, though he may be bright 
and jolly as Phil, there can be no dependence 
placed upon him, no surety that he is acting 
justly and honorably even by those he loves. 
However, let us not put all the blame upon 
Phil, but take a just share of it ourselves for 
being so ready to judge a school-fellow un- 
charitably.” 

“ Poor Christie has had a hard time,” said 


Triumph . 


267 

Lawton, “ and we must do all in our power in 
the future to compensate him for our past un- 
kindness. Dr. Grimshaw is delighted that his 
character is vindicated, I hear.” 

“ O yes,” answered Fish-ball. “ I met him 
in the hall after we had been cheering Christie 
and Dabney, and he asked me very sternly what 
all that uproar was about in the school-room. 
When I told him his face brightened, and I 
really believe he would have liked to cheer too ; 
but instead he told me to find him and bring 
him into the study, which I did, and heard him 
talk beautifully to him, thanking him for his 
kindness to Dabney, and begging him, through 
good and evil, always steadfastly to trust to that 
higher Power which had carried him so suc- 
cessfully through the trials of his first term. 
‘None/ said he, * are so humble but they can do 
some good ; none but in their hearts have a 
giant capacity for making others happy.’ 

“ I suppose it was to celebrate the occasion 
that Grim invited Dabney, Christie, Phil, and 
myself to take tea with him in the study, where 
we had a cosy little tuck-out all by ourselves. 
The Doctor was uncommonly jolly, and enter- 
tained us with funny stories until we all laughed 


268 Through Trials to Triumph . 

till the tears ran down our cheeks, excepting 
Phil, who wore a very hang-dog look, and ap- 
peared uncomfortable and ill at ease, especially 
when Dr. Grimshaw asked him the address of 
that aunt who was here this term.” 

Phil was indeed unhappy, for nothing weighs 
so heavily upon the heart as guilt. He had 
failed, too, in attaining the end for which he 
had condescended to deceive his aunt, and 
he knew that Dr. Grimshaw wished her address 
only to rectify the wrong impression he had 
made concerning Christie. Phil did not doubt 
that when she knew the truth she would do all 
in her power to encourage and aid Christie in 
his efforts to assist his friend. 

What had he gained by the course he had 
pursued ? Certainly nothing ; but he had lost 
his self-respect, and was burdened with the 
constant fear that his aunt would know that he 
purposely misled her. 

When in his anger he had flung in Dabney’s 
teeth his indebtedness to Christie, he little fore- 
saw what would be the result. He had not 
counted upon the moral force and courage 
which religion brings. He thought Dabney’s 
pride would forbid his mentioning the subject, 


Triumph . 269 

and was quite dumbfounded when he stood be- 
fore the whole school and confessed his poverty 
and indebtedness. 

Whenever boys recognize real goodness, real 
generosity or bravery, in their hearts they honor 
it, for it is godlike, and they cannot help it. 
It is their counterfeit, cant and hypocrisy, that 
they dread, and are so impatient of, and Phil 
never liked his cousin better, or respected Dab- 
ney more, than now that they were tried and 
not found wanting. How mean and contempt- 
ible his conduct and his aims seemed as he 
compared them with theirs ; for though Phil 
had lately closed his heart to all good influ- 
ences, they were not entirely lost upon him. 
It touched him sorely that now, when the whole 
school was ringing with Christie’s praises, and 
all the boys were vying with each other in 
showing him kindness, and in striving to ob- 
literate past troubles from his mind, that he 
was not forgetful of him, but sought in every 
way to heal the breach between them, and 
heartily he wished that he had never injured 
him, and that they were friends once more ; 
but he had many and many a pang of remorse 
to contend with, many a p hour of sorrow and 


270 Through Trials to Triumph. 

shame, ere he could confess as much to him 
and receive his forgiveness. 

And Christie ? Was he sorry now that he 
had left home ; that he had sacrificed his feel- 
ings to duty ; that he had striven faithfully to 
do right through the long weary half year ; 
sometimes failing, it is true, but, trusting in a 
Saviour’s love for forgiveness, had struggled on 
through trials to triumph ? Pleasantly did the 
kindly voices of his companions fall upon his 
ear ; sweet it was to know that he had gained 
the approval of his teachers, but the happiest 
thought of all was that Christ, the unfailing 
resource for human strength, was as ready in 
the future as he had been in the past to extend 
his mercy and protection. 

Summer and autumn had passed away, and 
with it Christie’s trouble. It was breaking-up 
day at the Franklin Institute — the time so ar- 
dently longed for during the long, weary term, 
and so welcome now that it had arrived. Wild 
snatches of song and merry laughter resounded 
through the hall, for were not many boyish 
hearts bounding with the thought of soon 
being home? Christie, in particular, felt so 


Triumph. 271 

glad and happy that he could hardly finish 
packing his things, and stopped every few mo- 
ments to stamp a chorus to the air Phil was 
trolling somewhat out of time. 

“ When shall we three meet again ? ” asked 
Dabney, who had come into the dormitory to 
be with his friend as long as possible before 
his departure, and was trying to expedite the 
business on hand by neatly writing Christie’s 
address on a card to tack upon the trunk with- 
out delay. 

“ Early next term,” replied Christie, “ which 
promises to open much smoother and pleas- 
anter than this one did. The only regret I feel 
now is that I am leaving you to plod through 
the vacation alone.” 

“ O don’t mind that, for I do not,” answered 
Dabney cheerfully. “ I feel as happy as a 
king and his kindly look did not belie his 
words. “After all, Christie, when we are at 
peace with ourselves it doesn’t make so much 
difference where we are, we can’t fail to be 
happy and contented.” 

Phil blushed. It might have been the effect 
of Dabney’s words, or unpleasant association 
connected with the pink-tinted paper which 


272 Through Trials to Triumph. 

he was that moment packing in his writing- 
desk. “Has the morning mail arrived?” asked 
he. 

“ I think so,” returned Dabney, strapping the 
trunk, and then putting his arm through Chris- 
tie’s for a parting stroll. 

“ I am glad I have worked hard at my Latin,” 
said Christie as he slowly paced up and down 
the long hall for the hundredth time, “ for 
though Aunt Amelia has retracted her promise 
to give me the money, there is a satisfaction in 
knowing that I should have earned it if she had 
not done so. Never mind, next term I hope 
something may occur which may enable you to 
spend the vacation with me.” 

“ I think something has already,” said Dab- 
ney, “for Dr. Grimshaw told me this morning 
that in future he should pay me a salary besides 
my board and tuition, as I was really valuable 
to him.” 

Christie was just about to congratulate him 
upon his good fortune when Phil came rushing 
up to him with a letter, which he put into his 
hand, saying, with great volubility, 

“ It is all right now, Christie ! I thought it 
would be when Aunt Amelia knew the truth 


Triumph. 273 

We can all take the noon stage, so go quickly, 
Dabney, and get ready.” 

“ What is he talking about ? ” asked Dabney. 

“ O how jolly ! ” exclaimed Christie as he 
read the letter, which proved a good key to 
Phil's excited incoherency. “ Here is the 
money, Dabney ; Aunt Amelia has sent it, 
after all, and says that she should not have 
taken back her promise had she not been led 
to suppose that I was cultivating an avaricious 
spirit ; but that Dr. Grimshaw had proved to her 
the mistake, and she says she is glad to award 
the money to one so worthy of it.” 

“ I wonder how she knew I had earned it ? ” 
continued Christie musingly. 

“ I wrote her,” Phil answered, almost shyly. 

“ How kind of you ! ” said Christie, and his 
eyes brightened with gratitude. 

“You would not say that if you knew that it 
was I who purposely misled her.” 

“ But you didn’t,” returned Christie. 

“Yes I did; and what is more, I wrote an 
anonymous letter to Dr. Grimshaw, and signed 
it 4 A Farmer.’ ” 

“I knew it long ago,” interrupted Christie, 
extending his hand. 


274 Through Trials to Triumph. 

“ And didn’t tell the Doctor ? ” answered Phil, 
hardly comprehending such forbearance. “ I 
do believe, Christie, there is no humbug about 
your religion, and that it really makes you 
better and happier.” 

“It makes me happier, certainly,” answered 
Christie thoughtfully. 

“ And it makes me ashamed of myself,” said 
Phil ; “ and I wish you would let me prove it by 
doing something for you.” 

“ Well, help me to get Dabney packed up in 
time to start with us,” replied Christie. 

“ O no, I can’t think of going ! ” returned 
Dabney in alarm. 

“ You promised to do so if I earned the 
money!” cried Christie, holding it above his 
head in triumph. 

“Yes, but do let me off!” cried he beseech- 
ingly. “ I am so shabby !” and he looked down 
at the coat, which, notwithstanding Christie’s 
exertions, still bore unmistakable signs of hard 
usage. 

“What mischief are you concocting now?” 
said Briggs. He was passing with a number 
of others, and stopped, attracted by the earnest 
countenances of the three. 


Triumph. 


27 5 


“ We are trying to coax Dabney to go home 
with us and pass the holidays,” explained 
Christie. 

“ I shouldn’t think he would need much 
coaxing,” said Briggs. 

“ Nor should I,” said Dabney, “ but I am 
such a looking object to go visiting.” 

‘‘Your coat doesn’t look as well as it did,” 
laughed Johnson, joining the group; “but since 
Phil helped to spoil it, I would make him lend 
me another one.” 

“ I would willingly do so, .but he couldn’t 
squeeze into one of my coats to save his life,” 
said Phil. 

“ I have a suit of clothes, which is at your 
disposal, hanging up in the closet at this very 
moment,” said Lawton. “ It would fit you ‘ to 
a t,’ Dabney. I didn’t pack it, because I never 
wear it, but if you would wear it I should be 
very glad.” 

“ Let us make him ! ” laughed Johnson, 
bouncing upon him. And so, without further 
parley, the boys dragged him into the dor- 
mitory, and by force of numbers actually com- 
pelled him to don the broadcloth and fine 
linen. Moreover, Dabney’s little trunk was 


2 y6 Through Trials to Triumph . 

brought to light, and such articles of clothing 
as were considered requisite and necessary for 
a Franklinite were placed therein, perfectly 
regardless of Dabney’s remonstrances and ob- 
jections. And when the noon stage left the 
institution, Dabney might have been seen 
wedged in between Phil and Christie on the 
outside seat, smiling and radiant, for no boy 
could be indifferent to the real interest in his 
happiness which was displayed by all of his 
companions. 

A welcome warm and sincere was extended 
to him by Christie’s parents, whom in time he 
came to regard almost as his own. In their 
happy home the vacation passed almost like a 
joyous dream, wherein he was refreshed both 
in body and mind ; and he went back to his 
duties again all the better for it, with an en- 
larged view of the purposes of life, and a 
stronger determination than ever, with God’s 
help, to eradicate wholly from his character 
that selfishness which had well-nigh proved its 
ruin. 

In after years, when Christie had become 
a successful minister of Christ, he often 
thought and spoke to Dabney of his first term 


Triumph. 277 

at the “ Franklin,” saying it was a blessed 
portion of his life, for in it he learned to 
trust in God and follow him, confident that 
he would lead him even through trials to 
triumph. 


THE END. 

















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